UTA Libraries and Families Celebrate the Holidays

The sounds of joy, happiness and fun were heard on the first floor of the UTA Central Library as staff members and their families gathered to celebrate the holiday season with food, games, and crafts on Wednesday, Dec. 21. 

Rebecca Bichel, Dean of Libraries, stated that the afternoon’s celebration provides a great opportunity for people to get to know each other better while having fun at the same time. 

“I am having such a great time today. This event is about saying thank you, enjoying ourselves, and showing our talents in ways that we usually don’t show them. It is also an opportunity to sit and visit,” Rebecca said. “I love that people brought their families to the library. This event is a great way to end our year here at UTA Libraries. Everything about the day makes me happy.” 

Staff members, student employees and their families participated in several activities. Some included making gingerbread houses, enjoying holiday treats, creating ornaments and decorations, and playing games. Santa Claus even stopped by the library to take photos and handed out some gifts. 

Fen Lu, Systems Librarian for Enterprise Applications, brought her daughter Olivia to the celebration and worked with her to create a gingerbread house. 

“It is fun to do projects with her. I enjoy this close time with her; it creates many memories,” Fen said. “We make a gingerbread house every year.” 

Whitney Russell, a Metadata Projects Librarian, shared Fen’s thoughts about the importance of spending time together as a family, making each moment count. Whitney was there with her daughter Sera and her fiancé Jeffery Moran. 

“This is my first time bringing the family. I like doing crafts, but I am not very good at them. But we figured we would bring her, and she could try to get her hands on something,” Whitney said. “We made ornaments and a wreath. She had some cookies already and took pictures with Santa.”