Library Blogs

A student perspective on powerful learning experiences during the Michigan Library Scholars Internship Program. This capstone project is about the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow. It is a physical exhibition displayed in the Hatcher Library North Lobby from August 1st through October 27th, 2022.

Did you know the largest student-led powwow is hosted in Ann Arbor each year? And it will soon be celebrating it's 50th event. Learn more about how this intertribal, cultural celebration of indigenous culture grew from a small local powwow into one of the larges powwow's in North America. The Dance for Mother Earth exhibition in Hatcher's north entrance display cases not only explores the history of the powwow, but also connects students and library patrons with current resources and information on modern indigenous culture and issues.

A subcommittee of the Library Diversity Council was charged to evaluate and interrogate the role of policing in the University of Michigan Library. This post explores the evaluation and decision-making processes, while identifying the labor that goes into projects dealing with anti-racist culture change. The group’s research resulted in several recommendations shared with library leadership.

Classes often place a limit on what research is necessary for essays and tests, but the Michigan Library Scholars program gives its interns freedom to pursue any and all available information. This concept can be intimidating, but a necessary part of pursuing a career in academic scholarship. As a history and political-science major, this internship program has offered me the opportunity to pursue my own ideas and develop crucial skills.

During my university experience, I have been busy and rushed, running to one activity after another. I am pursuing a double major in History and Classical Archaeology while at the same time taking heavy course loads to graduate early. The Michigan Library Scholars Program was the first time I was able to slow down to study and appreciate a historical event. It gave me the opportunity to develop a lot of different skills, and gave me the confidence to move forward into the working world next year.

Working for the Elections in Africa Web Collection project as part of the Michigan Library Scholars Program helped me develop valuable skills in project management, technical web archiving abilities, and knowledge on African politics. Though there were obstacles in approaching the wide range of content and the limitations of the Archive-It tool, I greatly improved in my capacity to adapt and problem solve as a contributor to this project.

A new exhibit pairs a dozen selections from the Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive (Special Collections Research Center) with dishes from the International Museum of Dinnerware Design. Enjoy this display in the Audubon Room from Thursday, July 7 to Thursday, September 29.

From the Jewish Heritage Collection: a trilingual postcard depicting Jacob Meir, Chief Rabbi of Salonica.

Happy Pride Month! Diverse representation of LGBTQ+ folks is extremely important, and at the University of Michigan, we want to foster a community of welcoming and acceptance all year round. As parades and festivals continue, you can celebrate or expose yourself to LGBTQ+ characters, authors, and themes in the comfort of your own home through a book! Happy reading!

The University of Michigan Library’s efforts to develop our digital preservation program created an opportunity to request additional support during the annual budget cycle. With only a few months to draft recommendations, the Digital Preservation Steering Committee performed an assessment survey to gather feedback from stakeholders across the library.