The University Libraries sponsored two Showcase activities. The Library Ambassadors held a meet-and-greet titled Peer Marketing at Work in the newly renovated multipurpose space in the University Libraries. Seven Ambassadors were available to talk about their experiences, share their stories, and promote the efforts undertaken in the Libraries.

Said Amanda Lowe, Outreach and Marketing Librarian and head of the Library Ambassador program: "I am extremely proud of what our Library Ambassadors have accomplished over the past year. I applaud their eagerness to share with their peers, faculty, and community all that they have learned while being a part of the program. I'm greatly looking forward to the continued future of this program with students like these onboard."

Mattie Fitzpatrick, a first-year student who participated in Showcase, described the event as "...a great opportunity to both connect with  students, faculty and my fellow Ambassadors. I had some incredibly enlightening conversations and had a great time speaking with everybody during the Showcase!"

The second program featured an interdisciplinary panel of students who worked in the Libraries (namely Special Collections and Archives), Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS), and the Languages, Literatures and Cultures’ (LLC) Spanish program. The session was titled Art, Resistance, and Mobilization in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Libros/Arte Exhibition and Collection, and featured research on handmade books focused on “topics such as migrations, environmentalism, women’s political agencies, motherhood, Latin American revolutions, political protest, and Caribbean literature.” The panel discussion was well received and had standing room only. 

Jesús Alonso-Regalado served as one of the faculty advisors. He said, “I am very proud of the student’s work. They did an excellent job presenting on our Latin American and Caribbean Handmade Books Collection. During their presentations, they eloquently conveyed how meaningful this collection was for them, not only as researchers but also as Latino/a students. They feel represented by this collection and appreciate its value to bring visibility to Latin American and Caribbean cultural diversity. Curated collections and events like this one contribute to their sense of belonging to the University and to student success.”

The Libraries congratulate our students on these excellent presentations, and we look forward to next year’s even bigger and better Showcase!