We’ve hired several new staff in the Small Special Collections Library in the past year, and we’re delighted to introduce you to our wonderful new colleagues. In previous weeks, we met Whitney Buccicone, Kim Cull, and Stacey Lavender. This week, meet Rose Oliveira, our Accessioning Archivist

Rose Oliveira, Accessioning Archivist

Rose Oliveira is the Accessioning Archivist at the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. She began this new position in June of 2020. She previously worked at the Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. Rose and her intrepid cat Euri ( short for Euripides) enjoy reading books, writing letters, and adventuring in the outdoors.

What was your first ever job with books or libraries? 

Growing up in Naugatuck, Connecticut, the Howard Whittemore Library was my second home. But my first job working in libraries came in my library program when I got a graduate assistant job at the Tufts Digital Collections and Archives. My first job working with books was in Seattle. I worked at the University District’s Half Price Books. I never had the pleasure of working with a better cast of characters (and I do mean characters). It certainly helped me on my way.

What was the first thing you collected as a child? What do you collect now? (oh, c’mon, admit it).

Actually, I was not much of a collector as a child unless you count Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High books. I had a lot of those! Because I have done a lot of moving, I keep my collections very curated and small. But I do collect friends’ zines from the Pacific Northwest.

Hopefully you’ve been roaming Grounds and Charlottesville a bit since your arrival. What’s your favorite new discovery other than Special Collections?

Hard question…but probably Blue Hole. Growing up by the water, I knew that I would miss the ocean when I moved to Charlottesville. I was determined to find as many swimming holes as safely as I could during COVID. Blue Hole was the first one I found. I like that it’s close, an easy hike, and a great place to swim.

Tell us what excites you about your job? 

SO MANY THINGS!! I love the creativity and problem solving that is required in understanding and mapping out a new position. I love being able to create the initial records that provide access to users more quickly to the truly amazing collections we bring in. I love working with a great team of people on accessioning digital materials and making them available to users. And, I truly love working with my colleagues; they make the library flourish and do incredible things in their varied roles.

Rose with colleagues accepting delivery of a recently donated collection.

“I truly love working with my colleagues; they make the library flourish and do incredible things in their varied roles.”

Tell us something about Special Collections or UVA that is different from what you expected.

Well, I came into the library and UVA at a very unusual time, so everything is different than what I expected. However, I am impressed with how adaptable and flexible everyone (staff, students, faculty) has been in such extreme changes.

If you could be locked in any library or museum for a weekend, with the freedom to roam, enjoy, and study to your heart’s content, which one would you choose? 

Another hard question. Probably the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Specifically when the nasturtiums are in bloom in the spring. It has both botanical features and amazing art to be inspired by all weekend long. The courtyard is magical; I would love to frolic and read and write there. They also have a great library that is available for browsing that I would enjoy being locked in with for the weekend.

We’ve hired several new staff in the Small Special Collections Library in the past year, and we’re delighted to introduce you to our wonderful new colleagues. In previous weeks,  we met Whitney Buccicone and Kim Cull. This week, meet Stacey Lavender, our Project Processing Archivist!

Stacey in her home office

Stacey Lavender is our Project Processing Archivist, arranging and describing a variety of collections. Previously she was at Ohio University, where she worked first as a Digital Projects Librarian and then later as the Special Collections Librarian for manuscript collections. Stacey is originally from Houston, a city she loves everything about except the weather, and went to graduate school in Michigan, where she found out she loves snow.

What was your first ever job with books or libraries?
One summer while I was in high school I got a job at the local public library, mostly reshelving books. I don’t remember much about it, except that it was my first time working an 8-hour day and I felt very grown up taking 15-minute breaks in the staff lounge. At the time I never imagined I’d end up working in a library as a profession, but it must have planted a seed in my mind, because here I am!

What was the first thing you collected as a child? What do you collect now? (oh, c’mon, admit it).
Books! One year for Christmas my grandmother gave me a collection of my dad’s childhood books and I was absolutely delighted to have a full bookshelf that was ALL MINE. I’m still haphazardly adding to that collection, and I have approximately zero self control in any bookstore. I also collect postcards. I buy them at every museum I visit, and any time I travel they’re my souvenir of choice. I keep some of them taped to the wall in my office at home, and rotate them in and out. I’m also a total sucker for pretty vintage glassware.

Hopefully you’ve been roaming Grounds and Charlottesville a bit since your arrival. What’s your favorite new discovery other than Special Collections?
I’ve been having a great time exploring local places to hike, especially the parts of the Rivanna near our house and the trails around Monticello. My husband and I bring our pup, Bogie, and watch him wade in the water and (unsuccessfully) attempt to catch butterflies. We’ve also been exploring local restaurants as much as we can with the pandemic, by getting takeout a couple times a week. We get croissants and coffee from Petite MarieBette every Friday morning, which I would highly recommend as a way to kick off your weekend a little early.

Stacey’s dog Bogie at the beach

Tell us what excites you about your job?
Working with the materials! I’m an inquisitive (read: nosy) person and I love learning about people and their lives through their collections. I frequently tell people I became an archivist so I could read other people’s mail, which is mostly the honest truth. I also love thinking about the practice of arrangement and description and how to meet the needs of our users, be they students, faculty, staff, or the community at large.

Tell us something about Special Collections or UVA that is different from what you expected.
Well I certainly didn’t expect to spend most of my first 6 months working from home! I have been continuously amazed at how my colleagues here have adjusted and adapted to the rapidly changing situation caused by the pandemic. It’s been such a hard time, but it’s been heartening to see how everyone in Special Collections has come together to keep meeting the needs of our users as well as we possibly can.

If you could be locked in any library or museum for a weekend, with the freedom to roam, enjoy, and study to your heart’s content, which one would you choose?
Oooh this is a hard one! I think maybe the Met. I’ve only been there once, and sadly I got sick while I was there and had to leave after only an hour. That interrupted visit still haunts me, so it’s the place that comes to mind first. Plus it’s definitely big enough to keep you busy for a weekend!

We’ve hired several new staff in the Small Special Collections Library in the past year, and we figure it is time to introduce you to our wonderful new colleagues. Last week, you met Whitney Buccicone. This week, meet Kim Cull, our Rare Book Project Cataloger!

Kim Cull and her dog, Elliot

Kim Cull is the Rare Book Project Cataloger working primarily with the McGehee Miniature Book Collection and the Shirley Plantation Collection. Before coming to the University of Virginia, Kim was the Cataloging and Metadata Librarian at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee. When she is not hard at work cataloging fun miniature books or slightly charred Shirley books, she enjoys cuddling up with her dog Elliot and eating cookies.

What was your first ever job with books or libraries?
My first ever library job was in the serials unit at Wells Library at Indiana University during my time in graduate school. Along with another student, I shelved periodicals, sorted mail, and checked in ‘PR’ serials, or serials published in Western languages. I got to work with some wonderful people and see some really fun art journals.

She really does love a good mug!

What was the first thing you collected as a child? What do you collect now? (oh, c’mon, admit it).
I grew up in a family of collectors, so I have collected my fair share of objects. The first thing I vividly remember collecting was Pokemon cards (Gen 1). My brothers and I would go to a comic book store or Toys R Us and use our allowance money to buy packs of cards just hoping to get the limited edition cards. Now, I am a proud owner of a mug collection. I also collect books like most librarians, but I love a good mug.

Hopefully you’ve been roaming Grounds and Charlottesville a bit since your arrival. What’s your favorite new discovery other than Special Collections?
Carter Mountain Orchard is one of my favorite discoveries in Charlottesville. I love visiting orchards and picking apples, berries, flowers, or whatever is available. The view on top of the mountain is gorgeous too! Also, who doesn’t love a warm apple cider donut in the Fall?

Tell us what excites you about your job?
I mean, the materials I work with are pretty awesome. I love old things; they make me feel sad (bonus points if you know where that quote comes from!) The absolute best part of my job though is working with fabulous people. When I found out I got the job, the first thing I did was cry because I am privileged to work under someone who has been cataloging for 50 years.

Tell us something about Special Collections or UVA that is different from what you expected.
Truthfully, I did not expect to love it here as much as I do. Everyone I encounter is so nice and friendly. When I started working here, I figured I would work really hard and learn as much as I could in the two years given to me and then move on to the next adventure. Now, I am hoping that my next adventure can be put off for just a little bit longer.

If you could be locked in any library or museum for a weekend, with the freedom to roam, enjoy, and study to your heart’s content, which one would you choose?
Either the James Whitcomb Riley house in Indianapolis, Indiana because it is a gorgeous preserved Victorian house or Newfields/Indianapolis Museum of Art because the Lilly House and the gardens are so much fun to explore.

We’ve hired several new staff in the Small Special Collections Library in the past year, and we figure it is time to introduce you to our wonderful new colleagues. Over the next few weeks, you’ll meet five new members of our Technical Services team! First up: their intrepid leader: Whitney Buccicone, Head of Technical Services. 

Whitney Buccicone, Head of Technical Services

Whitney Buccicone is the Head of Technical Services in the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia. Previously, she was the Special Collections Cataloging Librarian at the University of Washington (2016-2019) and held multiple paraprofessional positions at the Lilly Library, Indiana University Bloomington (2006-2016). Her job duties include managing the team responsible for the workflows focused on Acquisitions, Cataloging, Archival Processing, and University Archives. The Technical Services team is also formulating a plan for the reparative work needed to ensure that all collections at the Small Library are properly described and enhanced to reflect history, including the voices normally hidden due to white supremacy.

What was your first ever job with books or libraries?
I worked in a small Christian bookshop in my hometown in Goshen, Indiana. I loved the books but hated selling them (I’ve been a book hoarder from a young age!). After that, I had a part-time job over the summer in the public library. I started working at the Lilly during my junior year at Indiana University and didn’t look back.

What was the first thing you collected as a child? What do you collect now? (oh, c’mon, admit it).
Books. It’s always been books. Now, I collect comics, graphic novels, and any sci-fi/fantasy novels written by women, especially Black and Indigenous authors. I also collect succulents and kitchen tools.

Hopefully you’ve been roaming Grounds and Charlottesville a bit since your arrival. What’s your favorite new discovery other than Special Collections?
Rivanna Trail is so much fun! I also love walking the Downtown Mall and popping into any of the bookstores where I promise myself that I won’t buy anything (it’s a lie). I’m a big BBQ aficionado so checking out new places is a fun pastime.

Tell us what excites you about your job?
I have the best group of employees that a boss could ask for. Each of them has skills that make them excellent at their jobs and I couldn’t imagine doing this job without any one of them. They love challenges and always step up when I need them. Way to go, team Tech Services!

Tell us something about Special Collections or UVA that is different from what you expected.
What brought me here was how, during my interview, every staff member came across as user-focused. Since coming here, I found that at every level of the Library and on Grounds. We are here for our patrons and students — it’s our focus and our pride.

If you could be locked in any library or museum for a weekend, with the freedom to roam, enjoy, and study to your heart’s content, which one would you choose
The Field Museum in Chicago. I want to drink hot cocoa with Sue the T-Rex!