2025 Nishihara Classroom Beautification Committee

Jan 27, 2025 Meeting (Diana P, Kelly M, Rachel B, and Natalia F)

Action Items

Diana P reaches out to Janet with our ideas, and specifically the part 1 idea for Janet to select art from the existing library collection
RB meets with Janet re: the art tour, sometime in February
Janet selects the pieces she'd like and writes a curator statement (the committee will assist her with this)
Committee works with Robin to design and print the curator statement
RB moves the art into the classroom

Meeting Notes

Funding
- LAMP proposals – gift funds request; may need to submit an out of cycle proposal https://osulp.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/LAMP/pages/54495125/Proposals+for+Allocation+of+Funds
About the Walls - restrictions and considerations
- Art Rail already installed on the backwall
- Plan to focus on the top half of the walls; the art needs to not interfere with the function of the space i.e. the screens and use of whiteboards
- Murals = panel murals that can be removed if needed, surface mounted, not on the wall itself
- Could plan for art on all three large walls, maybe do not add content to the projector wall
- Due to the use of the space, we want to make sure the art is not super delicate
- Paint the walls? white walls as they are may be better for hanging art
Permanent vs Temporary Art
- Could have 1-2 walls be temporary and 1-2 walls be more “permanent”
- There are other non-library units that have art for loan
- Regular rotations of art would be an additional commitment, more long-term commitment
Ideas for Art Installations
- Could rotate pieces from the art collection we already have; Rachel B could give a tour and have Janet pick a few pieces and write a curator statement
  - Costs = time and curator statement printing (maybe ask Robin for graphic design assistance)
- Could have call for artists and Janet selects the winners
  - Targeted recruitment to the CRCs to ensure we invite BIPOC students
- Images from Janet’s collection – her own photos to incorporate as part of artwork
Janet Involvement
- We want Janet to be involved in the process of brainstorming and implementing ideas
Student Involvement
- Ask Janet first
- Student artists? Could pay via one-time gift funds
- Students involved with planning? We’d want to pay them due to more of a time commitment, maybe a student paid library position

Ideas for 2023-2024 and Beyond for Outreach and Engagement

What does Janet want?
- Something with elements representing her family heritage?
- What info does Janet want people to know about her and her family?
Programming - FTE involvement
- need to determine who is responsible for ongoing programming for the Nishihara room, the space and in connection to the fact that it's Janet (R&L and library spaces, others?)
Ideas
- muralists
  - Chanti Manon- currently working at Ina Haws is a local muralist who is already being commissioned to work on murals by OSU would be a great addition to this/someone to ask.
  - Cornerstones Living Studios muralists/artists we could work with their organization which creates spaces for neurodiverse artists to create. Angel Black does work with Cornerstones Assoc.
  - Alex Chiu https://www.instagram.com/artbyalexchiu/?hl=en
- Other options for acquiring student art?
  - Could very well do an open call for students who are part of EOP programs & give compensation to each awardee
- art rails in the room for posters
- Avenue display nearby could be used as an ongoing book display of eop related titles & art collection
- relocate pieces of art from the OSULP collection
- OSU student involvement
  - Cultural centers
  - Other student groups
- Good examples of other programing could be highlighting eop student successes via our social media leading up to the announcement of the renaming? Unless that's giving away too much information. As of now, our social media has a lot of engagement and it would be great to continue to reach out to students in this way as a renaming is underway; maybe get a list of recommended books/materials from eop students or staff to highlight virtually/in physical display. A portion of funding could go towards improving the breadth of our book collection with titles that eop students specifically want to see

2022-2023 The Nishihara Family Classroom Naming Group

Natalia Fernandez, Diana Park, Angela Haney, Rachel Burgess (out of office April 24 - a few days before the event on the 12th), Robin Weis and Jane Nichols (on sabbatical starting March 1; cc on all communications)

OSULP website classroom page: https://library.oregonstate.edu/classrooms/nishihara

OSULP LibGuide: https://guides.library.oregonstate.edu/nishihara-classroom

Library Shared Drive: Library\Shared\Nishihara Family Classroom (graphics for the event and photos of the event)

Classroom Doors: Door Text and Graphic.pdf

Timeline

November 17, 2022 ~ admin briefing announcement of room naming
November 18, 2022 ~ launch of the group (Rachel B, Natalia, and Jane)
December 2, 2022 ~ meeting with Janet
January 2023
- Jan 25th ~ meeting with Janet to regroup about the next steps
- meeting with ETS about the website page about the room
February, March, and April
- submit the glass door text to the vendor (completed by the end of March, during spring break); work with AMD directly re: the $
  - draft reviewed 2/16 and finalized 3/8
  - COMPLETED March 2023!
- develop libguide content (done by early March for initial sharing with updates in April for promotion of the May event)
  - COMPLETED (i.e. published) March 2023! (will add more content about the event as details are finalized)
- plan the May event
  - 03/28 (Tues) 11am Catering Check-in (AH, DP, and NF); zoom
    
    04/05 (Wed) 10am Promotion Check-in (NF and DP); zoom
    
    04/12 (Wed) 11AM Room Set Up Planning (all of us); meet in-person in the classroom
    - special occasions order
    - catering order
    - location for QR code or other info directing people to the libguide
    - set time and logistics for ribbon cutting and determine to promote that time or not
May 12, 2023 (Friday) Public Naming Celebration, 3-5pm
- May 1 (Mon) ~ To Dos Check in Mtg - DP, NF, AH, and RW; zoom
- May 10 (Wed) ~ in-person final walkthrough and check in mtg - DP, NF, AH, RW, and RB
Summer 2023 ~ signage and floor maps updates (pamphlets and the website)

Funding

The group will work with AMD directly to request funding and for her to determine funding source(s) (i.e. no LAMP agenda item nor proposal needed) - DONE!

TO DOs for the academic year 2022-2023

Physical Naming of the Space

the name, both a formal and informal version: The Nishihara Family Classroom and Nishihara Classroom or Nishihara Room
- 12/02 confirmation of the name with Janet - yes, for The Nishihara Family Classroom and either shortened version is good
the 2 glass doors
- use the two glass doors, so when the doors are open, the info still makes sense separately
  - door #1, on the left, the application to the glass to say "The Nishihara Family Classroom" with the family crest
  - door #2, on the right, door dedication + info about the family
  - timeline
    - text submitted to RB in Feb and confirmed in March
    - goal for the door text to go up during spring break (end of March 2023)
  - font-style ~ standard font for naming rooms
- the avenue sign currently says "classroom" and could be changed to "Nishihara Room" but need to check the # of characters that can fit (we'd need space for 14 characters)
costs ~ Rachel B's budget index
labor (RB as the contact)
- glass application - outside contractor, NWGI; March 2023
- avenue sign ~ MediaHub
timeline
- request for the application to the doors to be completed during spring break, March 2023 - DONE!
- for the avenue sign, need a month's notice, maybe request over spring break

Online Presence for the Naming of the Space

#1 Library Website and LibGuide pages to be updated (mtg 1/27)
- Classroom specific page https://library.oregonstate.edu/classrooms/west
  - rename this page and the URL to https://library.oregonstate.edu/classrooms/nishihara - DONE 1/27
    - Kenna changed the URL and added a re-direct within drupal
  - add a few sentences about the name + add the libguide link (once it's ready) - DONE 2/23
  - Jane and Diana have edit access to this page
- Classroom Guides libguide https://guides.library.oregonstate.edu/Classroom-Guide
  - Jane will update; DONE 2/09
- Outlook calendar VLib 2024 West
  - Lucinda will send a ticket to CN re: the name change - DONE 02/23
- Qualtrics form
  - Jane will look into it - may need to ask Uta – DONE as of 02/09/2023
- Various locations on the wiki
  - crowdsource - will ask folks who have access to page to make the change in name
#2 LibGuide for info about Janet
- 12/02 confirmed with Janet re: the idea for a public, online information about her and her family
- LibGuide (private link so Janet has access)
  - text and photos (see the "about Janet" info below)
  - link to the library website addition for "about the room"
  - Natalia/Diana P/Jane/others affiliated with this group
#3 Floormaps
- Floormaps main floor https://library.oregonstate.edu/floormaps/second-floor and Floormaps page https://library.oregonstate.edu/floormaps#rooms
  - the text can change but for the floor map image, Lucinda and LIT only update these once per year
  - timelime = summer months
#4 DO NOT ADD TO THESE PAGES - ONLY FOR CLASSROOMS THAT CAN BE RESERVED BY NON-LIBRARY FOLKS
- Room Scheduling page https://library.oregonstate.edu/room-schedule
- Classroom Guidelines https://library.oregonstate.edu/classrooms/guidelines

Ceremony/honoring gathering/reveal party - a kick-off event for potential future programming in FY24 and beyond (see ideas below in the next section)

Committee for the event
- Diana, Natalia, Angela (admin), and Rachel B (spaces)
DATE: Friday May 12th 3-5pm
- 12/02 confirmed with Janet re: the idea for a May dedication event
Event Ideas
- Open house event with food and beverages
  - only "timed" activity = ribbon cutting and AMD speech - use an orange ribbon [note in the promotional material when this will happen]
- photographer for the event = Robin and other students
- guestbook
- slide show - powerpoint on loop to play on the screen
  - family photo slides show on loop on the screen during the event? Janet will think about it
  - photo slides of the room set up as a classroom ~ need photos of the room
- zoom component ~ no, no zoom component for this event
Event Logistics
- book the room (Diana - done 03/13!)
- send a save the date with a calendar appt to all F/S
- place catering order, along with table needs- DONE by Angela! NishiharaClassroomDedicationMay12thCatering.pdf and NishiharaClassroomDedicationMay12thRental.pdf
  - $965 (out of budget $1,000 from AMD)
    - $655 for food for 100 people
    - $100 for linen
    - $100 on rental of tables (10 tables about about $12)
    - $110 drop off and pick up ($55 each way)
- slideshow (and maybe some music)
  - Janet will give us some images - Janet did not give any images
  - slideshow - one slide, the crest (NF)
- centerpieces for the table (Robin)
  - 11 will be cut & placed on little standees
  - we asked Janet for more info about the crest - she has none
- gifts for Janet and family
  - scan of watercolor of a painting and print by Media Hub (Rachel and Robin); frame donated by Angela - picture has been ordered via media hub
  - for the family ~ little cards with the crest and date of the event; print via printing and mailing (Robin and Angela)
  - bouquet of flowers (Natalia will donate)
- plan the program
  - 3:15pm AMD speech (mic for check out) + ribbon cutting + gift Janet the flowers and the frame (AMD is good to go on developing a script/speech)
- photographer for the event
  - Rox will be present
  - Polaroid camera for self-taken photos
- whiteboards for question about the room (for Diana, Natalia, and Jane article)
- "guest book" box
  - little cards to leave around the room (Angela) + little pencils
Event Promotion
- OSULP graphic design and OSULP social media (Diana will submit request - DONE)
  - Diana P's March meeting with Robin:
    - Diana explained the event and asked Robin to use the crest not the photo of her
    - Robin was added to the slack channel
    - social media posts via OSUL Facebook and Instagram (Robin) - one week before the event (sometime in the first week of May) - social media is scheduled the 4th, 8th, 11th, & 12th - DONE as of 04/24
    - kiosks slides in the library; also post in some other buildings on campus, as they are able - Robin and his team take care of this - DONE as of 04/24
    - flyers dropped off to UHDS - DONE as of 04/24
    - Event info on the May 2023 OSULP Newsletter
- AFAPC and APCC listservs and networks - they have so many events on their calendar that they tend to promote events a week in advance; this event WILL be on the May calendar of events for the APCC
  - share Robin created social media posts with the APCC (DP) - DONE
  - share Robin created social media posts with the AFAPC (DP)
- OSU Today - will share 3 days before the event (Angela)
- All F/S email(s) (NF - calendar invite sent 03/13)
- OSULP Donors/Friends lists - May 5th Open House - admin will invite folks (Angela)

COSTS

via AMD directly ~ Angela
- budget of $1,000 for event costs
- Use AMD's Dean fund, the Campbell gift fund
OSU catering for about 100
- cocktail tables and linens
- Angela will contact the loading dock with any FYI about the drop off

donations
- frame (Angela)
- flowers (NF)
- ribbon (SCARC)

labor
- committee time
- moving of furniture to Autzen (RB will coordinate for the day of move of tables and set up, as well as clean up); extra trash cans and Angela will help bus tables
Timeline
- Feb - March date selection and confirmation - DONE!
- March - April planning - DONE!
- May event - DONE!

Signage and Floormaps Updates

Updating on the floor plans in the pamphlets - updated once a year, prior to fall term 2023 (RB and Lucinda) and throughout the website (Kenna); there is one folder for all the files
costs ~ routine annual costs for the pamphlets and the floormaps on the website
labor ~ regular team of RB and LEAD folks
timeline
- spring 2023 ~ announce to the library that the spaces will not be renamed until the summer
- summer 2023, routine updates always take place over the summer

Meeting Notes (Fall 2022)

Naming Process

OSULP selected Janet for the room name; she did not donate money. AMD noted that no, b/c a financial gift was not the reason for the naming, the OSU Foundation does not need to be involved in our next steps; however, we need some internal to OSULP documentation about the naming
What is the look and feel already present in the library re: naming spaces?
- Other examples include the Mel George Plaque and Betty Miner sign in the learning commons
- This could be the first time the library has "about this name/person” information.

2022-11-18 NF, JN, and RB Meeting

review of 2022-2023 to dos (see above list)
- anything missing
- add additional thoughts for each to do

2022-10-17 JN and NF Meeting

regroup a smaller version of the committee; NF as point person, with JN (EDIAR goal for the year to be involved in renaming the room) and RB
create wiki space for renaming documentation
brainstorm of action items and ideas for the group
ACTION ITEMS
- meeting for Nov (NF)
- wiki page for group (NF)

2022-10-11 AMD, NF, and Janet Meeting

Janet formally accepted the room to be named for her and her family

Spring/Summer 2022 Renaming Exploration Group

Jane Nichols, Kelly McElroy, Christoffer Eric Petersen, Rachel L Burgess, Robin Weis

Renaming the West Classroom-Draft Proposal.docx

JN's limited access g-drive folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V1V4QabYXV_ll7VCVe_LxqfhoN_2f6uP

Agenda/next steps 06/07/2022

Any additional changes to proposal
Celebrate the awesome rationale! See below. Is it possible to locate that doc in this folder? About Janet Nishihara
What else?
Jane will pull together docs to send to AMD for her input about next steps, will get any last input from group and cc on the email, in the coming week or so!

Agenda / Brainstorming 05/09/2022

Learn how to name a space for a living person
1. This group could encourage OSULP to create a policy for the room that future stuff be related to why we choose to honor Janet.

The library does not have a process or policy for this, that we find. Opportunity for Building unit to create one that is broader in scope--related to naming spaces overall.
OSU has a policy for naming buildings, it does not extend to rooms inside a building, thus far
Rachel shares that we’re not aware of any thing from the Foundation that prevents us from renaming; should be fine on that front
It’s unclear what would happen if a donor opportunity came along because there wouldn’t necessarily be a contract/MOU

Estimates for signage are a bit high, but could extend to something like an inspirational quote, a plaque, etc. thus we recommend to keep. We want options.
KM and CP --Create a doc that outlines rationale for why Janet/ some thoughts to support asking her
Today’s conversation surfaced the need to prepare the Dean plus relevant others such as Natalia Fernandez to be prepared to ask Janet if she would like this/ accept this honoring of her/her family/her work/recognition of her contributions to OSU; support and work on behalf of marginalized students.
Today’s conversation also surfaced the ongoing dilemma about outreach activities: Who is in charge of the $ and programming?

Our proposal should propose an option for this room

Rachel reminded us to consider that there could be overlap/implications w/ donor relations
Actions
1. KM & CP–rationale
2. JN --update the proposal and create another meeting; note that we want to use DLB275 For signage

About Janet Nishihara

Janet Nishihara (b. 1956) first came into contact with OSU as an undergraduate, majoring in English Education and completing her degree in 1978. She returned to Oregon State in 1980 as a master's degree student in the College Student Services Administration program, a time period during which she also became involved with the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) at OSU. For more than three decades following, Nishihara has played a central role in a wide variety of student support and diversity development initiatives on campus. In 2009, after many years on staff, Nishihara was promoted to director of EOP, the mission of which is to provide support for the personal and academic development of traditionally underrepresented students at OSU. (From the abstract to her 2015 oral history interview)

Link to the bio sketch for that interview:

http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oh150/nishihara/biography.html

First generation college student, from a rural community
Originally came to OSU in 1974, so it will be a fifty-year association in 2024
Was a student worker in the Kerr Library:

[I worked] in the Materials Preparation department. That kind of saved me in some ways because, my first term and second term, I couldn't figure out how to manage my schedule very well. I felt like I had a lot more free time than in high school, and if I have a lot of free time I don't get stuff done – I just sort of dither and talk to people and stuff. Having a job made me be more thoughtful about planning things and getting my homework done and getting my reading done and things like that. Plus I met some pretty good people who still work at Oregon State who I still see every once in a while. And then my younger brother worked there, my younger sister worked there, so we kind of handed the job down from kid to kid in our family. It was fun. We were down on the very first floor, the basement of the library, mending books, sticking on what they used to call C-line – we would type the call number and then iron it onto the spine of the books. So that was kind of fun to do that kind of stuff. And then deliver them upstairs and have them processed.

Two OSU degrees
In addition to the Educational Opportunities Program, was involved with the creation of the Difference, Power and Discrimination program, the Ethnic Studies department, and the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center. Also involved with Upward Bound programming on campus. Also teaches in CSSA, supports graduate students.
Earned a Ph.D. specifically because she wanted to eventually lead the EOP program at OSU.
Among the first women of color to attain a position of power at OSU

"What's in a Name?: What Named Spaces Tell Us About Academic Libraries" Eamon Tewell, Cynthia Tobar, Harvey Long, James Castrillo, and Fobazi Ettarh, ACRL 2021

tewell_whatsinaname.pdf

Many academic library buildings are named after someone, whether an inspirational thinker, a wealthy donor, or an influential professor or college president. These names are so commonplace that it can be easy to ignore where they came from and what their significance is. This paper takes a case study approach to uncovering the meanings of these types of names. We will consider the purposes of named spaces, analyze the history and significance of named library spaces across several institutions, and explore how to make our spaces more reflective of our libraries’ aspirational values. By examining what academic biases and societal oppressions the names of our buildings and spaces reflect, this paper will encourage thinking about race, gender, and class on our campuses in a new way

IMAGES OF THE DOORS