A partnership between UTA Libraries and Pepsi will bring a new photo collage to the Central Library that highlights the community within its walls.  

Roscoe Chandler, a Pepsi key account manager, stated that throughout April, several photoshoots with library patrons, clubs, and departments would take place to tell the story of UTA Libraries.  

"We are here to bring to life what is going on in the libraries with each photo shoot to create a photo collage," Chandler said. "This collage will be placed near the front doors where the empty glass is located."  

Chandler stated that the project's goal is to make people aware of what is happening within the libraries and encourage them to be part of the library community.  

Chandler stated that this project reflects the continuing partnership between Pepsi and the university. He shared that the university has been very supportive of the project.  

The photo collage is anticipated to be in place by the fall semester. 

People from around the community packed the Special Collections Department to view UTA Libraries' new collection of historic Antarctic maps and to hear from NBC 5 meteorologist David Finfrock on Tuesday, March 21.  

The 150 maps, along with hundreds more stamps and postal covers of Antarctica, were donated by Finfrock to the university. During the open house event, Finfrock shared his love for maps, Antarctica, his experience visiting the continent, and its history with the crowd. 

Finfrock's interest in Antarctica started first with geography and was cultivated by his father.  

"My father was a geologist, and we had traveled across the country. We had maps that we would color in each state we visited," Finfrock told UTA Libraries in an earlier story. "That really teaches you a love of geography and maps when you can associate a place with something on a sheet of paper or now a digital map."   

Finfrock’s interest in Antarctica grew as he learned about some of the explorers who had made the journey, like Sir Ernest Shackleton who led three British expeditions and even survived a shipwreck.  

As he continued to learn more about Antarctica, he wrote letters to scientists working at the research stations on the continent. At times replies to his letters would take up to a year. This allowed him to collect stamps from the research stations.   

During his talk, Finfrock shared with the audience details about the trip he made to Antarctica for his 50th birthday. Finfrock recalled at one point in the trip, a penguin came right up to him, and he was able to snap a picture up close before it walked away.  

Suzanne Byke, an associate university librarian, stated that it is wonderful to have this type of resource here at the library that everyone can learn from and enjoy.  

"I have always loved maps, and now that we can look at this collection of Antarctic maps is wonderful. It is a treasure not only for our researchers but for the students and the community at large," Byke said. "I think the university community has greatly benefited from David gifting these maps to UTA Libraries." 

Anna-Marie Welch stated she loved Finfrock's talk and the knowledge he shared.  

"As a child, he inspired a love of learning in me," Welch said. "He would teach people about the weather. By the time I was 10, I knew what there was to know about the weather and what it meant because he would take the time to explain it." 

Welch stated it was fascinating to see these historic maps up close and hear about their history.  

Jeanie Browing, a Friends of the Library member, complemented Finfrock's dedication to putting this collection together over the years. She noted that it was very generous to donate the collection to UTA Libraries so that it continues to educate people for years to come.  

The Antarctic collection can be viewed in the Special Collections Department, located on the sixth floor of the UTA Central Library.  

Information about the Special Collections Department can be viewed on the UTA Libraries' website at https://libraries.uta.edu/collections/special-collections.  

Students, faculty, and staff members celebrated the grand opening of the Rainbow Lounge at UTA Central Library Friday, Feb. 10. The lounge was created through a collaboration between UTA Libraries and the LGBTQ+ Program. 

Josh Mackrill, UTA’s LGBTQ+ Program Coordinator, stated the lounge provides a place for LBGTQ+ students and ally students to support one another while building community. 

“I think that one of the biggest things that we have seen after COVID is that our students want to find community, and they need to find community,” Josh said. “It is cool that we have this kind of relationship on the third floor, with the Safe Space Lounge right next door, creating optimal space for inclusion.” 

The lounge provides space for students to study and is home to the libraries LBGTQ+ book collection along with resources that students can access. In the future, the lounge will be home to student-created art that will decorate the walls. 

During the week, the lounge will host several support groups for LGBTQ+ students. One of these groups is Prism: LGBTQ+ Community Conversations. This group will meet from 1-2 p.m. every Monday to discuss all topics related to the community. 

Another support group is the Queer and Trans People of Color, which meets from Noon to 1 p.m. each Tuesday. This support group will share issues, challenges and success stories. To help students and to be a listening ear, Josh will be holding office hours in the space from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. every Thursday. 

“We are excited to have this partnership with the library and work to create inclusive spaces because we know -how much the library is a resource of knowledge,” Josh said. 

Jessica Sanchez, Director of Student Advocacy Services, shared Josh’s feelings about the space and what it means for the UTA community. She noted that the lounge is proof that when “offices come together and build partnerships,” it not only creates more space for students but creates a stronger community.  

For more information about the Rainbow Lounge or the services provided by UTA’s LGBTQ+ Program, people can email Josh at joshua.mackrill@uta.edu. The Rainbow Lounge is located on the third floor in room 318 at the UTA Central Library. 

Students looking for a new place to gather and build community have a new place to do so at the UTA Central Library. The Safe Space Lounge is now open on the third floor. 

Milaun Murry, Experiential Learning librarian, stated that the lounge provides a place for everyone to come together. Anyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, background or lifestyle, can feel welcome in the lounge. 

"The space itself is not reservable as a study room, but it is reservable by student organizations and other approved groups for meetings or programs," Milaun said. "So, say, for instance, somebody wants to bring a speaker to talk to their group about a particular topic; they would be able to use the safe space lounge in order to have those types of important conversations with the library support." 

Milaun stated that the idea to bring the Safe Space Lounge to the UTA Central Library was a student lead initiative that felt the need to bring this resource to campus. 

The lounge is decorated with couches and plants to provide a relaxing atmosphere and also features a conference table. 

There will be a rotating exhibit every month in the lounge that relates to the culture or social month that UTA Libraries is celebrating. The Black History Month exhibit is currently being set up within that space. This exhibit will include historical information about UTA and the Black queer community. 

"One of the walls is dedicated specifically to UTA Libraries Special Collections. I have images I'm going to put up there that I pulled from Special Collections," Milaun said. "One is a picture of the first African American student body president. One is of the first African Americans to graduate from UT Arlington. So, we pulled some significant images that will be portrayed on that wall." 

Milaun stated that they are also starting a monthly book recommendation list associated with each cultural month. One of the lists will be in the Safe Space Lounge, and the other copies will be at each service desk in the Central Library. The list will include a QE code that will take them directly to the libraries' website, where they can download the book or find the item inside the building. 

"The space does have like just basic university resources as well. We have all the resources for the LGBTQ+ office from the Center of Cultural Change and Social Justice and resources from Title 4 and the RSVP office in the lounge," Milaun said. "Then we also have a custom map designed by our studio students that displays where all the gender-neutral bathrooms are located and all the prayer lounges. We try to make the lounge a one-stop relaxing space to be able to get anything that you need related to diversity, equality, and Inclusion within the library." 

The Safe Space Lounge is next to the Rainbow Lounge, Room 318, on the third floor at the UTA Central Library. Any student organization who wants to use the lounge can email Milaun at milaun.murry@uta.edu to reserve it. 

UTA Libraries is going to the dogs Wednesday, Feb. 8, with the return of the monthly Doggy Days event. Through this event, students get the chance to interact with dogs and de-stress at the same time.  

Grace Backus, a library specialist, stated that Doggy Days is one of the libraries' oldest and most beloved events.  

“I think it’s a great way to relieve stress with the semester starting to pick up,” Grace said. “Students can expect to have a relaxing time petting some pups! Be sure to get there a little before noon to get a good place in line.” 

Dr. Teresa Doughty, the UTA College of Education Dean, brought her therapy dog, Boomer, a golden doodle, to visit with students back in November. She shared that the visits students have with the dogs provide a needed break from the stress brought on by school, work and in their personal lives. 

"This is his (Boomer) first full year of being a certified therapy dog, and he has grown into this role. He loves people and interacting with people," Dr. Doughty said in a previous UTA Libraries article. "We have worked with children with autism, and he has a calming effect on them. It is the same kind of effect that he has with students. He brings a sense of calm."   

The Mayo Clinic's website states that studies show mood-boosting hormones like oxytocin and dopamine are released when petting an animal. It also decreases the stress hormone cortisol and reduces anxiety.  

Doggy Days will take place from Noon – 2 p.m. in the sixth-floor atrium of the UTA Central Library building. No sign-ups are required, but time slots to visit with the dogs are on a first-come, first-serve basis. No outside dogs will be allowed to be brought to this event. The event is free to attend. 

If people have any questions about this event or need special accommodations, they can email elo_tl@uta.edu. 

For more information about this and other UTA Libraries events, go to https://libraries.uta.edu. Information can also be found on the UTA Libraries' social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Historian and UTA professor Dr. Sam W. Haynes will share his insights on the early beginnings of Texas during a presentation of his new book “Unsettled Land: From Revolution to Republic, the Struggle for Texas” at an upcoming event. The talk will be held from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in the sixth-floor parlor at the UTA Central Library.  

Haynes stated on his website that his research has focused on 19th-century Texas and the American Southwest for the past few years. His recent book offers a new interpretation of the founding of early modern Texas.  

“Although larger-than-life figures like Sam Houston, David Crockett and William Barret Travis—all white males--dominate the traditional narrative, Texas was one of the most racially diverse regions on the North American continent on the eve of the rebellion against Mexico in 1835,” Hayes wrote on his website. “This book adopts a wide lens to show how Anglos, Mexicans, Native Americans, and people of African descent struggled to navigate the upheavals that rocked the region in the early decades of the 19th century.” 

Haynes has written several other books on Texas and American history. These books include “Unfinished Revolution: The Early American Republic in a British World,” “James K. Polk and the Expansionist Impulse,” and “Soldiers of Misfortune: The Somervell and Mier Expeditions.”  

Following Haynes’ presentation about his book “Unsettled Land,” a question-and-answer session will be held.  

People attending the event are welcome to view the “The Shifting Shapes of Texas” exhibit at 6:30 p.m. in the Special Collections Department on the sixth floor.  

The Friends of the Libraries is sponsoring the event with Haynes. Friends of the Libraries is a membership organization committed to enhancing the resources of UTA Libraries for the benefit of students, faculty and the community. Since 1987 support from the Friends has enriched the libraries’ collections and services critical to teaching, research and learning at UTA.  

For more information about this event with Sam W. Haynes, go to the Friends of the Libraries website at https://libraries.uta.edu/about/friends.  

Students showed their Maverick pride as they handcrafted mums at the UTA Central Library Mum-Mania Tuesday, Nov. 8. The Mum-Mania event is part of the university's annual homecoming celebration events.  

Mums are a way to show pride in the school a person attends during its annual homecoming celebration. Initially, mums were made using real Chrysanthemums, but today they are made with silk flowers. These flowers are fashioned with accessories such as ribbons, charms, beads, stuffed animals and other items. 

Heather Claney, Manager of Community Events, stated it was great to see many students participating in this event and showing pride for UTA. She noted that each mum reflects the student's personality and style. 

"Today, we are all about mum-making for Mum Mania. Every student gets a little baggie with all their little supplies to do their mum. Then we have got little extra goodies that we can add to it as well," Heather said. "I love seeing the team spirit and students that haven't done mums putting mums together." 

Texas Highway Magazine states that homecoming mums started appearing in Texas during the 1930s. However, the first known homecoming mums were worn in Missouri, which hosted the first homecoming football game in 1911. 

At the event, UTA Libraries provided items like ribbons in university colors and other items such as beads so students could individualize their mums and make them specific to themselves. Students had the chance to win some premium items at the event to make their mum stand out even more. Mum experts were on hand to share their knowledge and skills with students. 

Jenny Thomas, a Psychology major, stated she had never gotten the chance to do this type of activity before but always wanted to do it. 

"In high school, everyone wore all these big mums, and I never had a chance to do it," Jenny said. "I thought this would be a fun activity to do with my friends." 

Ilse Mendez, a Nursing major, stated that events like this help to get you connected with new people, have some fun, and be creative at the same time while showing school spirit. 

Homemade cookies, brownies, and candies gave students a much-needed taste of home and a fun way to celebrate Halloween at the UTA Central Library on Monday, Oct. 31. 

Gretchen Trkay, Associate University Librarian, stated that the event has continued to grow over the past six years. It started with wanting to do something nice for students by providing them with a bit of a taste of home. 

“I was trying to think of something nice for college students who would not get the kind of thing in their normal day-to-day life to enjoy. So homemade baked goods came to mind,” Gretchen said. “I like to bake. It started by making 400 or 500 different cookies and has now expanded to thousands of baked goods.” 

Gretchen thanked her colleagues who stepped in, giving their time and resources to make these homemade treats. Without their help, it wouldn’t be possible to provide this warm welcome to so many students. 

Rebecca Bichel, Dean of Libraries, shared Gretchen’s feelings about the importance of this outreach event. 

“We know that so many of our students are away from home, so it is a chance for us to bring a little bit of home to them with home-baked goodies. That is why it is so important to us that it is homemade and not just store-bought,” Rebecca said. “It (the outreach) helps them feel part of the community and connected. We also have students for whom Halloween is not a tradition, so it is a great way to introduce them to a fun tradition.” 

Dalya Tek, an architecture major, stated that events like this help to bring a little bit of home to campus. 

“I love these events,” Dalya said. “My Mom bakes a lot, and having little bakery stuff reminds me of my mom.” 

Students, faculty, staff, and the public will see firsthand the impact of the AIDS virus on countless lives through a new exhibit. A portion of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display from Oct. 24 through Oct. 29 in the sixth-floor atrium at the UTA Central Library. 

Kathryn Slover, a Digital archivist with Special Collections and Archives, stated the AIDS Memorial Quilt is a powerful exhibit showing this disease's impact. 

"We are bringing a block of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to campus, which will be exhibited outside Special Collections," Kathryn said. "The block features several different panels, which are dedicated to a specific individual commemorating their lives. The people that are commemorated on the quilt died of AIDS-related complications." 

Kathryn stated that one block that features eight panels measures 12 by 12 feet. This one block commemorates eight people and is dedicated to people from Fort Worth.   

This exhibit is not the first-time a portion of the quilt has been shown at UTA. It has been displayed four times, with its last display in 2013. 

The National AIDS Memorial website states that the quilt was conceived in November 1985 by human rights activist, author and lecturer Cleve Jones. The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a 54-ton tapestry with nearly 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 individuals.  

Each year, the National AIDS Memorial works with hundreds of partners across the country to orchestrate more than 1,000 displays in schools, universities, places of worship, corporations and community centers. The quilt can also be viewed and searched virtually at www.aidsmemorial.org/interactive-aids-quilt.  

Kathryn stated she hopes that the AIDS quilt will make people want to learn more about national and local stories about AIDS, its impact here at UTA and the LBGTQ+ community. She shared that Special Collections has started compiling the history of the LBGTQ+ community and will have a mini-exhibit on display with the quilt. 

"The exhibit gives a brief history of the quilt as a national movement, but also the history of the quilt on UTA's campus and ending with AIDS activism in DFW," Kathryn said.  

Kathryn stated the exhibit does a good job in complementing the quilt telling the national and local stories.  

The AIDS Memorial Quilt will run from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. from Oct. 24- Oct. 29 on the sixth-floor atrium of the UTA Central Library. The mini-exhibit will run 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday in the Special Collections Department on the sixth floor of the UTA Central Library. 

More information about the AIDS Memorial Quilt exhibit can be found on the UTA Libraries website at https://libraries.uta.edu. 

This year’s Virginia Garrett Lecture Series on the History of Cartography focuses on the history of Texas through maps. The talks will take place from Thursday, Oct. 6, through Saturday, Oct. 8, at UTA Libraries.  

Ben Huseman, Cartographic archivist with UTA Libraries Special Collections and Archives, stated the lecture series provides valuable insight into past events.  

"These lectures are an extraordinary resource and to have this coming to North Texas is very important in sharing our changing knowledge and interpretations of early maps and Texas history," Ben said. "Members of the International Map Collectors Society    and the Texas Map Society will be attending along with scholars from a variety of locations." 

The UTA libraries website stated that when longtime library supporter Virginia Garrett donated her extensive personal collection of maps, geography textbooks, and atlases to the university in 1997, a special endowment was established to promote its use by inviting scholars to speak on topics relating to the history of cartography. 

 As a result, every other year since 1998, the UTA Libraries have hosted the Virginia Garrett Lectures on the History of Cartography along with a special exhibit drawn primarily from Virginia Garrett's collection. 

This year's lecture series features several individuals with extensive knowledge about the events and people that shaped the state into what it is today. 

One of these speakers is Dr. Juliana Barr, a historian from Duke University, who reinterprets early Texas history adding greater emphasis to indigenous perspectives through extensive use of early European maps of the area that became Texas. 

Another of these speakers is Dr. Jim Bruseth, Ph.D., who served with the Texas Historical Commission. 

He was the archaeologist that directed the excavation of the ship, the La Belle, which wrecked along the Texas coast in 1686. The La Belle belonged to the French explore La Salle and was salvaged from Matagorda Bay from 1996 to 1997. The ship's remains are preserved at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. 

"Dr. Bruseth has been active in the field of archeology for more than 40 years. His projects have been covered in national magazines such as 'National Geographic' and ‘The Smithsonian,'" Ben said. "He is going to be talking about that excavation and about how the inaccurate maps of the period helped doom La Salle’s project." 

Dr. Bruce Winders, Ph.D., will be speaking at the event as well. He served as the historian and curator at the Alamo in San Antonio for more than 23 years. During his talk, he will share information about this historic site. 

"He knows all of the ins and outs of the Alamo story from many different angles," Ben said. 

For more information about the Virginia Garrett Lecture series, the schedule of events, or how to register, go to https://bit.ly/3AZSLzP. 

The smell of spices and fresh vegetables filled the air as students worked together to cook chili during the first Maverick Kitchen event on Aug. 31. Maverick Kitchen works not only to teach students how to make a delicious meal but to show healthy food options. 

Milaun Murry, Experiential Learning librarian, stated the chili cooking event was a great success across the board and received a positive response from the students who took part. 

"I think the thing I loved the most is that the students connected it (cooking) with things they already did at home. They were connecting with how they could tweak the recipe for their family," Milaun said. "One student talked about how his mom loves chili con carne, and now he can call her and say, 'hey, I made this dish for the first time.' He can now cook it for his mom for the first time. I am excited that they are making those connections and thinking about how it will work for them later." 

Milaun stated that chili is a simple dish to make and customize to make it unique to that person. With that knowledge, students can take this dish beyond the library's walls to share with family and friends. 

Sagar Dharman, a Computer Science master's student, stated that cooking is not just about the food but the people working to create it together. 

"The best part was to see people who haven't cooked get together, learn to cook and enjoy doing it. It is not the boring cooking that you do by yourself. You make new friends, and you make a lot of connections," Sagar said. "I met a few people that I would not have normally met. It was so fun." 

Nicole Mbaeri, a study abroad student from the University of Leicester, stated that cooking is a relaxing activity. 

"You can take your time cooking. You can listen to music. You can be creative in cooking and try different things and innovations," Nicole said. "It is like art with artists when they paint something." 

Mohanraj Senabady, a computer science major, shared that attending Maverick Kitchen wasn't just about the food but the experience. He stated that this event was "a good chance for people to learn something new." 

The next Maverick Kitchen, Puerto Rican Eats, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29, in the Studio Classroom on the first floor of the Central Library. There will be two cooking sessions, one at 12:30 p.m. and the second one at 5:30 p.m. 

At the cooking event, students will prepare sofrito, a combination of spices, herbs and peppers that is a base for several Puerto Rican dishes. The sofrito will be combined with beans during the cooking demonstration to create a delicious, healthy, cheap, and quick meal.  

Maverick Kitchen is free to attend. No registration is required, but seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

UTA Libraries supports librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers by recognizing the freedom to express ideas through its participation in Banned Books Week. Banned Book Week runs from Sept. 18- 24. 

For the past 40 years, Banned Books Week has featured books targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. The goal of the week is to draw national attention to the harm of censorship. The theme for this year is "Books unite us. Censorship divides us." 

Morgan Brickey-Jones, K-12 librarian with the UTA Libraries Experiential Learning and Outreach Department, stated that Banned Books Week is important because it shows how censorship is a global issue many people face daily. 

"The deterrence from learning about any topic is troubling, and it is still a problem. It occurs widely, and it is not just in the United States. It is all over," Brickey-Jones said. "We seek to be supportive of that freedom to read whatever somebody is interested in reading." 

The American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom states it tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Most of the targeted books were about people who were black or LGBTQIA+. 

Amy Castillo, UTA Libraries Access and Discovery Department Head, shared Brickey-Jones' thoughts about the importance of this week. She shared that people must have access to knowledge and other viewpoints without the cloud of censorship hovering over them. 

UTA Libraries will have a display for Banned Books Week on the fourth floor of the Central Library. The display will be on the wall near the stairs, the Reading Resources Collection, and the marketing and communications department. While Banned Books Week runs from Sept. 18-24, the display will be up through the end of September. 

The display will feature an informational poster about Banned Books Week, informational flyers, and books from the banned books list will be featured. The books that are a part of this display are from the ALA's Banned or Challenged Book lists. 

There are several events that UTA Libraries will be hosting that students can take part in during the week. These events include,  

• From 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, library patrons can take part in an activity where they can write the title of their favorite banned book on a sticker, which will be attached to a poster.  

• On Tuesday, Sept. 20, to Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Banned Books Week display, library patrons can take part in a blackout poetry activity.  

• On Friday, Sept. 22, library patrons can take part in a scavenger hunt. Several books from the banned book list will be hidden around campus. If library patrons find the books after deciphering clues, they can keep them. Clues will be available at the fourth-floor display and through the UTA Libraries' social media channels. 

Throughout the week of July 18-22, students from across the Metroplex had the chance to explore space with the help of staff at UTA Libraries at Camp Cosmos. During the camp, children could utilize technology at the library's Fab Lab, Studios, and videogame basement to do space-themed activities.  

 Nicole Spoor, Assistant Department Head for Teaching and Learning, stated one of Camp Cosmos' goals is to connect children with the university.  

 "Our focus is bringing in students from the Arlington Independent School District and surrounding areas and providing them with an experience on a college campus. We see this as a pipeline to going to college," Spoor said. "We feel like bringing in students in elementary, middle, and high school makes them feel like they can go there and be successful." 

 At the library, campers have been utilizing its resources in maker spaces. These spaces include the 8,000-square-foot Fab Lab, which contains tools such as 3D printers, the Studios where digital art and audio projects are done, and the gaming space in The Basement.  

 "There are so many incredible activities. This group is now getting ready to decorate what will become a rocket. They will go out and shoot a couple of rockets using baking soda and vinegar to create propulsion," Spoors said. "Downstairs (in the basement), they are playing a game called Artemis that we have transitioned from being a video game to an experience. It looks like they are in a spaceship and a command center. They all get to have different roles that they are playing as they go through missions." 

 Morgan Brickey-Jones, K-12 Librarian, shared Nicole's excitement about how Camp Cosmos is connecting with the campers and the future possibilities they get to explore. She noted the camp shows people that a library is for everyone.  

 "The perception that a library is just for the people who pay to go here is not what this library is," Brickey-Jones said. "I think the camp helps to remind people that the library is for everyone, and tools are for everyone. So that has been cool to see."  

 Morgan praised the hard work of the staff and the student employees who served as councilors, which made Camp Cosmo successful. They created incredible memories for the campers through their active involvement in games, craft activities, and trips to the planetarium. 

 Jonathan McLain, a sixth grader from Arlington, shared that he enjoyed some hands-on projects with library staff.  

 "We did the little egg drop. We designed these little boxes to put our eggs in and went to the (Maverick) Parking Garage," he said. "Then we dropped them off the top floor of the parking garage to see if they would survive." 

 Grace Covington, a fourth grader from San Antonio, liked creating a space-themed board game.  

 "I liked making the board game. It's called 'Stranded.' We made it together, all of our group. There are these little clay astronaut heads that are the game pieces and aliens that you have to fight," Covington said. "It is basically a space version of Monopoly. You will roll the dice and move your piece. It will say something like abducted, and you will go to jail or collect a card." 

Computer Science Masters student Sushma Kukkadapu stands in front of the College Park Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. She dons her graduation gown and cap, stoles and medals—as well as blue latex gloves.

Kukkadapu is one of thousands of students around the world who did not walk the stage as planned in May due to social distancing restrictions related to the novel coronavirus. Kukkadapu is also one of many UTA Libraries student employees who were honored on May 22 in a ceremony featuring a celebratory video and staff-wide congratulations.

“Our student employees are near and dear to us at UTA Libraries, and we knew we had to find a way to celebrate them during this unusual time,” said Dean Rebecca Bichel. “We congratulate them on this incredible achievement and can’t wait to see where they go from here.”

Outreach and Community Specialist Stenila Simon worked with the various Libraries departments to collect photos of students in their graduation garb, with their support groups (family, friends, etc.), and doing something they love. The photos were compiled into a special video that was streamed on Facebook and YouTube as a highlight of the celebration.

Simon, who organized the event with the help of fellow Outreach and Community Specialist Alessia Cavazos, says honoring student staff is a point of pride.

“Just a year ago, I was in their shoes,” Simon said. “Knowing that these graduating students won’t be able to experience [graduation] right now made me feel sad, and I wanted to create some meaningful experience to help them celebrate in the moment.”

Simon also said it was important to celebrate these graduating students now and not later.

“Sure, they can come back and walk the stage later, but there’s also something special about being recognized right now, right as you’re finishing up your very last exam or very last project ever,” Simon said. “It was important for me that we do what little we can to create that celebratory atmosphere, and to help make them feel special as they so rightly deserve.”

Cavazos said the event is an expression of the Libraries appreciation for these students—and she hopes the students can feel that.

“We care deeply about our students, and we are so excited to see them grow and go on to accomplish amazing things,” Cavazos said. “This event is a way for us to say ‘thank you’ for all of their hard work, and let them know we are always here to support and celebrate them.”

Kukkadapu has spent the last ten months working in the Libraries’ Digital Creation department, assisting with scanning and documenting digital materials, and says the job helped her connect with the university as well as American culture.

“I interacted with other departments of the Libraries during various events, organized by the Fablab, Special Collections, etc., which cultivated the Maverick culture in me,” Kukkadapu said. “Of all the events, I loved the Halloween event – it was a fun and different experience for me as an international student.”

Despite the unusual circumstances of her final semester at UTA, Kukkadapu has kept her bright spirit—in her graduation photos, she poses with the blue latex gloves and a sign that reads “Class of 2020: The One Where We Were Quarantined” and “The year we made history…”

She is also looking toward the future.

“Soon, I will be joining the Bank of New York Mellon as a Developer,” Kukkadapu said. “I think I can use my student employee experience to kickstart my next chapter.”

The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries is doing its part to combat the novel coronavirus by using its FabLab facilities to create face shields and masks for the local community.

The face shields will be distributed to John Peter Smith (JPS) Hospital in Fort Worth while the face masks will be distributed to Libraries staff. Additional masks will also be available to UTA students and faculty.

“Since this crisis hit campus, UTA Libraries has felt the call to go above and beyond to serve our community,” said Rebecca Bichel, dean of UTA Libraries. “Katie Musick Peery has been instrumental in not only identifying what the FabLab can do, but putting plans into action that serve our healthcare heroes and keep our staff and students safe. We are proud of the work she and her team have done and continue to do.”

Peery, director of the FabLab. credits the maker movement—and its relationship with local communities—for the rapid response to the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage related to COVID-19.

“As soon as cities across the nation began experiencing shortages of PPE, makerspaces stepped in to help.” Peery said. “Our team reviewed different face shield models that were being shared online, I made calls to local hospitals to see if there was a need locally, and we got our printers running.”

Once the NIH 3D Print Exchange began clinically reviewing and approving face shield designs for hospital use, Peery says those in the FabLab felt even more confident that what they were making could be an asset to UTA’s local health care providers.

The face shields are made from a 3D-printed visor, foam tape (to provide padding against the forehead), an elastic band, and a clear acetate sheet.

In addition to the face shields, the FabLab has also been making handsewn face masks. Mia Perkins, a biochemistry and MBA dual-degree graduate student and FabLab associate, has been crucial to the production of the face masks. She did research on the most beneficial designs and has split her time working in the lab and at home. Perkins sees the work as an extension of the FabLab’s ideals.

“I think it's our duty to help since we are both adequately equipped and eager to help,” Perkins said. “Part of the lab's motto is to be of service to our UTA community and the general public, so this is in line with our values.”

For Perkins, this project is also personal.

“I very recently lost my grandmother to ALS and she was the first person who taught me to sew,” Perkins said. “I think she'd be very proud of me for using my skills to help others because it’s what she always did.”

Helping others is a driving force for Peery, too.

“We want to keep our UTA community as safe as possible, especially our Libraries staff who are still working on site to meet the critical needs of our students,” Peery said. “We’re hopeful that the design we’re using—which provides more coverage over the nose and sides of the mouth, a closer fit to the face by using a moldable wire along the bridge of the nose, and a pocket for an additional filtering material—will provide the best home-made protection possible.”

To Peery, stepping up to produce PPE was a no-brainer.

“If we have the means and opportunity to help our community, we should do so, especially during such extenuating circumstances as we are experiencing now,” Peery said. “The equipment in the FabLab allows us to produce PPE that is much more reliable and well-crafted than something that is quickly pieced together, and saves our healthcare workers time.”

Staff at UTA Libraries welcomed students back to campus this week with informational booths and smiling faces.

The Spring 2020 semester at the University of Texas at Arlington officially began on January 21. Students both new and returning found themselves in Central Library throughout the week, whether for a fresh bagel from Einstein’s or for a moment of reprieve on one of the Libraries’ quiet floors. Spaces like the FabLab, dataCAVE, and The Basement hummed with activity as they reopened for service.

Dean Rebecca Bichel was excited to see all of the students back from the long winter break.

“UTA Libraries comes alive when filled with our students’ energy,” Bichel said. “We are proud to be a hub of experiential learning and creativity that nurtures belonging essential to our students’ success.”

Jonathan Thurston, a returning freshman, appreciates how many studying options UTA Libraries offers him.

“My favorite thing about UTA Libraries is how open it is,” Thurston said. “You can choose what style you want to work in…if you want a quiet area or a louder area, you can choose, and that’s what I like about it.”

Thurston says UTA Libraries has also helped him find and build a community on campus.

“UTA Libraries has allowed me to meet more people and…have a social life within my studying life,” Thurston said. “Usually I’m always at work then school…so coming to the Libraries is a nice little break in between classes where you can just hang out with friends.”

An event that Thurston is looking forward to attending again is Tail Waggin’ Days, where students can spend time with certified therapy dogs in Central Library’s sixth floor Atrium.

“It was a big relief,” Thurston said. “I went several times—just meeting new dogs that are really fluffy was really nice and a [breather] from all the studying.”

The Libraries’ Architecture and Fine Arts and Science and Engineering branch locations have also reopened this week. Users can find a complete list of hours, as well as more information about events and services, on the Libraries’ revamped website.

Mavericks had the chance to make, decorate, and learn more about mums at UTA Libraries’ Mum Mania event on Nov. 7.

Hosted on the second floor of Central Library, the event supported UTA’s 2019 Homecoming Week. Students were given ribbons, strings of beads, and other accoutrements befitting the traditional Texas display of school pride, with staff on-hand to assist as well as teach the mum’s great history.

“UTA Libraries is excited to participate in campus events like Homecoming and provide Mavericks with opportunities to engage with their community,” said Rebecca Bichel, Dean for UTA Libraries. “We hope students walked away from Mum Mania with a sense of belonging—and a spectacular mum to wear to the big game!”

Tatiana Matozo heard about the event on social media and brought her friend, Mia Garcia, to make mums. Both students said the Libraries plays a big role in their UTA experience.

“It’s a good environment,” Matozo said. “If I’m here, I’m going to study.”

Garcia echoed Matozo’s sentiments, emphasizing Central Library’s round-the-clock accessibility.

“UTA Libraries has helped me by giving me a place to study and do my homework, especially since it’s [open] 24 hours,” Garcia said.

Matozo appreciated the opportunity to show her artistic side at the Mum Mania event.

“Making mums is just so fun,” Matozo said. “You get to be a little creative and lose a bit of stress from all the stuff that is going on.”

Garcia recommends the event for all Mavericks.

“Especially if you’re not from Texas!” she said. “I’ve never made one [before], so it was fun.”

For a full list of UTA Homecoming events, please go to uta.edu/homecoming. You can see a full album of photos from Mum Mania on UTA Libraries' Facebook page.