The Humanities Center welcomes April Urban, Research Librarian for Digital Humanities and subject liaison to African American Studies. Urban joined UCI’s library system this July. According to Urban, UCI stood out to her due to “its great academic reputation and stellar faculty and its strong access to resources due to being a UC campus… and value[s] how UCI advocates for humanities research through the Humanities Center and other campus groups.”
Originally from Florida, Urban received a PhD in English literature, theory, and cultural studies from Purdue University and a Masters in Library Science from Indiana University, Bloomington. She joined the UCI Libraries staff in July 2023.“As someone who grew up in Florida, I was happy to return to a warm, sunny climate after living in the Midwest,” Urban expressed.
Urban’s digital humanities research encompasses her academic interests but also particularly focuses on digital exhibits and storytelling, text analysis, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Urban’s knowledge and expertise in these areas highlight her understanding of utilizing technology for the advancement of education, research, and storytelling in new, innovative ways.
Urban’s objectives include engaging with faculty and students as well as creating a collaborative environment among different units to promote the humanities. She is also passionate about research development and support: “I have previous experience teaching and tutoring writing, and I find it rewarding to engage in conversations with students about their ideas and research, and so I found the idea of consulting with students and faculty as a librarian very attractive." As part of the Digital Humanities Exchange, Urban will help connect fellow scholars while expanding conversations on critical data studies and the innovative use of technology in the humanities.
In her free time, Urban enjoys cooking, taking walks in nature, and reading contemporary fiction. She also loves to attend art museums and live music. When asked if there are any facts about research librarians that people may not know, Urban stated, “I think the main thing people may not know about librarians is that they have a variety of responsibilities and are always doing different things, whether finding new books for the collection, building online resources, or consulting with students. People may also be surprised that a lot of library work is increasingly taking place in the digital realm.” As the need for librarians with knowledge and passion for digital humanities grows, individuals like Urban are vital additions to UCI’s intellectual ecosystem.
Written by Tommy Cross, Fall 2023 English Intern, Humanities Center