Students enjoyed a moment of calm at the UTA Central Library on Tuesday, May 2. The Destress event gave people a brief time to escape from the stress of final exams and projects. 

Music played in the background to create a soothing atmosphere as students enjoyed snacks, drinks and hot tea. As part of a relaxing exercise, students could color a mandala. A mandala is a geometric arrangement of different symbols. Mandalas are used in some spiritual traditions, but they can be used to focus attention or as an aid to meditation.  

Navneeth Krishna, a computer science master's student, shared that it is important to take time out of your day so that you can renew your mind. 

"When we learn to destress, we can learn something new and refresh ourselves," Navneeth said. "I found out quite early that destressing is very crucial. I take 15 minutes of mindfulness every day to relieve the day's stress." 

Navneeth advises that mediation is an essential tool for self-care and should be done at least once a day. 

According to the Mayo Clinic's website, there are several ways to manage stress that can have several health benefits. 

Some of these stress management strategies include: 

• Getting regular physical activity 

• Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation yoga or tai chi 

• Keeping a sense of humor 

• Spending time with family and friends 

• Setting aside time for hobbies 

The Mayo Clinic also advises against static stress management methods, such as watching television, surfing the internet or playing video games. At first, they may seem relaxing, but they may increase stress over the long-term.  

It is also vital to eat a healthy balanced diet and avoid tobacco, excess caffeine, alcohol, and the use of illegal substances to reduce stress. 

Priyanka Cheepurupalli, a computer science master's student, shared Navneeth's thoughts about the importance of stepping away from the books for a few minutes. 

She noted that events like the one sponsored by the library allow a person to "take a break from everything and relax a bit so that the mind can get refreshed." 

Mindy Nguyen, a psychology major, stated that people need to take small steps to accomplish a goal so that one does not stress overseeing the big picture all at once. She added that taking regular breaks and pacing yourself as you study is critical. 

While exams are stressful, don’t let them consume you. Take small steps, breathe and relax.  

For more information about managing stress, visit the Mayo Clinic's website at https://www.mayoclinic.org or seek help from a physician. 

Students unleashed their creative side as they shaped and molded clay into Easter baskets at the FabLab workshop on Monday, April 3.  

Nicolette Kaylor, a FabLab student employee, explained that during the workshop, students used the score and slip method to create their clay Easter baskets.  

The score and slip method joins two clay pieces together by first scoring the clay. This step is done by scratching the surface of each piece of clay that will be sticking to each other.  

After the scoring was complete, students then used the slipping technique. Slipping is a mixture of water and clay to glue the two clay pieces together.  

"You have to let it dry over a couple of days after assembling the piece," Nicolette said. "Once it is dry, we fire it in the kiln. You want it bone dry because if there is moisture, the water expands in the kiln, causing cracking."  

Nicolette stated that before using the score and slip method, students shaped and rolled out the clay with a rolling pin. Then, they cut out the clay with a template and decorated the pieces using a stamp.  

Nayla Hodges, a theater performance major, stated that working with clay opens up new possibilities for creativity and gives you a lot of "freedom" in the process.  

She shared that working in this medium connects her to her mom.  

Nayla remarked that her mom is a creative person who uses her creativity as a cake designer.  

Maritza Hernandez, an economics major, stated she was invited to the workshop by her friend.  

 She always had an interest in pottery and thought this event would be an excellent way to explore that interest.  

Events like this are great for her because "it is not easy to get the material to make stuff like this at home," Maritza said.  

For more information about upcoming UTA Libraries events, visit https://libraries.uta.edu or follow its social media pages, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

Holy crêpes, did you know how amazing vegan crêpes are? Students learned how to make these tasty creations at the March 30 Maverick Kitchen event.  

Karl Shewry, a chef educator with Turn Compost, did a cooking demonstration for students and UTA staff members, showing them a healthier alternative to traditional dishes like crêpes.   

"I wanted to do something that I didn't think many people do, which is vegan crêpes," Karl said. "Traditional crêpes have eggs and milk, but because of my own vegan lifestyle and trying to find another niche market for my crêpes, I have developed these vegan sweet crêpes."  

The main difference between Karl's crêpes over traditional ones was using a vegan egg substitute, which acts as the binding agent. The binder binds all ingredients in the recipe tighter, giving strength and stability to the crêpe batter.   

He noted that vegan egg substitutes could be found in several local stores.   

The ingredients were then combined and whipped together in a bowl before being cooked in a pan on a stovetop.    

To top off the crêpes, Karl created a lemon curd topping. This topping was composed of white sugar, cornstarch, nondairy milk, fresh lemon juice, turmeric and lemon zest/lemon shavings.   

"If you follow this recipe, you should be able to get about 20-25 crepes," Karl said. "There are no eggs and milk, so it keeps. You can make them and freeze them. They are pretty hearty."  

Caroline Ocampo, a history major, stated she was eager to learn about something new.  

"I thought that it was a good recipe. I didn't know that there was an egg replacer with water. I thought that was fascinating, and this was more of a healthier option," Caroline said. "It's also tasty."  

Mayte Campos, an interdisciplinary studies major, really liked how all of the flavors in the recipe came together to create a unique taste.  

"I think that it (the recipe) is very good. It is really interesting how the mint works with the rest of the recipe," Mayte said. "It is really strong, but at the same time, it goes well with the lemon."   

For more information about the upcoming Maverick Kitchen events, go to the UTA Libraries website, https://libraries.uta.edu, or follow the libraries' social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.   

Information about Turn Compost can be found online at www.turncompost.com.    

 People interested in chef Karl Shewry's culinary creations can visit his website at  https://www.greatgalettes.com. 

Stigmas were dispelled and truth was spoken about mental health issues at the UTA Central Library. An open dialogue created a forum that allowed students to have honest discussions about the importance of mental health on Tuesday, April 11. 

Aaron Machbitz, the founder of the nonprofit You Are Loved, led the conversation. You Are Loved works to educate people about mental health and to be a beacon of love for all people living with mental health conditions. 

Aaron stated that everyone faces trying moments in their lives that can shake them to the core. To be ready for those moments, he stressed that working on your mental health daily is crucial. 

"Your mental health, fitness and well-being is what you do to care for yourself. I call that your mental health tool kit. You're developing this toolkit to help you during difficult times," Aaron said. "You need to use these tools not just when you're feeling horrible, but when you're feeling just OK." 

When asked what people do to take care of themselves during stressful moments, suggestions from the audience included things like playing music or going for a run.  

Aaron shared that the first step in creating this toolkit is to be honest with yourself.  

 "We are not going to make the mark every time," Aaron said. "Sometimes it means that we have to tweak something." 

He noted that you don't need to look at a mistake as one word but as two; a mis take. A mis take allows a person to look at a situation from a different perspective, learn from it, make things better going forward and manage expectations. 

"Managing expectations is important to being an optimistic person," Aaron said. "You want to be rooted in reality, but being optimistic is a skill that can be worked on over time." 

Aaron explained that one of the first steps to becoming an optimistic person is to write down at least three amazing things that happened to you that day. These don't have to be monumental moments but simple ones, like receiving a compliment or doing a random act of kindness for someone else. This step builds confidence and helps keep negativity at bay, which can be extremely harmful. 

Another suggestion that he made to the audience was to implement boundaries in your life, which improves mental health. One example Aaron gave was getting eight hours of sleep each night. 

Aaron suggested to students that they need to start looking at a self-care strategy, starting by doing things that make them feel better and not awful. He noted that students need to be aware of what their body tells them by eating, thinking, moving and sleeping well. 

The most critical step that Aaron encouraged students to follow is to have a support system in place. That support system needs to be made up of people that will encourage you, build you up, love you, and be honest with you in the good and difficult moments. In turn, do the same for them when the opportunity presents itself. 

"Find a support system that is key to building a good life that is meaningful," Aaron said. "It takes time to build that support group. Be active in looking for it but be patient." 

To learn more about Aaron Machbitz and You Are Loved, visit https://youarelovedlife.com. 

For information about upcoming UTA Libraries events, go to https://libraries.uta.edu or on social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Through step-by-step instruction, students, staff, and faculty learned how to make glass jewelry at the FabLab’s latest workshop on Wednesday, March 22. 

The first step in creating custom glass jewelry was for workshop participants to select the type of item they wanted to create. Some of these items included pendants, necklaces or earrings. 

Once they settled on a design, the FabLab staff helped them select the type of glass. 

Nicolette Kaylor, a FabLab student assistant, stated that workshop participants had two choices in how they used the glass. These choices would give the final product a unique look. 

“You can do a tact fuse where one piece of glass is stacked on top of another. In this process, the glass partially melts, giving a 3D look,” Nicolette said. “Or you can do our full fuse where the glass completely melts into each other forming a solid tie-dye effect. The colors melt together, and you can get more of an abstract look.” 

Staff members then gave directions on how to cut the glass and assemble it before placing it inside the kiln to be fired. After firing the piece, people could pick it up two to three days later. 

 Karina Rodriguez, a critical languages and international studies major, stated that other workshops the FabLab have hosted inspired her to attend the one offered on Wednesday. She noted that she was looking to create a pendant during the workshop. 

Brenda Miller, a UTA staff member, stated going to the art show at the university inspired her to come to the workshop to create something unique. 

“I came on board (with the university) in December of last year, and they had an art show taking place. I saw all the pretty pieces and bought some jewelry,” Brenda said. “I thought it would be kind of fun to see the options to make it.” 

Brenda stated the workshop is not only fun, but you learn a lot in the process. 

For more information about upcoming UTA Libraries events, go to https://libraries.uta.edu or follow its social media pages, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

The UTA Libraries FabLab gave people a heartwarming opportunity to create handmade cards for Valentine's Day on Monday, Feb. 13. 

The FabLab staff took people step-by-step to make a greeting card using a wooden block. Before the workshop, the staff selected the designs and laser-cut them into wood blocks. 

 First, people selected the block of wood they would use as the design for the card. Once the design was selected, ink was applied to the block using a brayer roller. The block was placed into a holder, and paper was placed on top. 

People could run the paper and the holder through a hand-cranked press or apply pressure to the paper using their hands. Once complete, the inked design would be transferred to the paper. 

Krishna Petel, a Construction Engineering Management major, stated she was drawn to the workshop after seeing a post on the library's social media pages. While she had been a student at UTA for several years, Krishna had yet to use the FabLab before Monday night. 

"It is cool how they incorporated multiple elements of the FabLab into this single program. It is nice hearing about that from the student workers," Krishna said. "I got inspiration from one of the student workers for the card design. I also just loved how the colors blended into each other. It is super cute." 

Indigo Passariello, UTA Libraries staff member, stated that this type of event allows people to learn something new and meet new people. She noted that the workshop is not only fun but is taught well by the FabLab staff. Without that help, "I would not know where to begin." 

 For information about future events or workshops in the UTA Libraries FabLab, go to https://libraries.uta.edu or on the Libraries' Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Pages. 

Students around campus shared their enthusiasm about sneakers and the culture connected with them at the For the Love of Sneakers event held at the UTA Central Library Tuesday, Feb. 14. 

Milaun Murry, an Experiential Learning librarian, gave students at the event a history of sneakers and how they have grown in popularity over the years. She shared that popularity grew with the introduction of the Converse All-Stars and professional sports.  

“With the advent of professional basketball, these shoes, the All-Stars, were the standard in the NBA for 20-plus years. However, Converse was not designed for basketball. You saw the introduction (of specifically designed basketball) shoes in the 1980s and 1990s,” Milaun said. “Sneakers were then evolving into a way to express who you are as an individual.” 

Milaun shared that in schools in the 1980s and 1990s, you saw this form of self-expression through the artwork on a person’s sneakers or the colored laces that they used. She encouraged students to think about how sneakers have impacted culture. 

As part of the For the Love of Sneakers event, multiple pairs of vintage shoes were displayed for people to view and hold along with learning about their history. Some pairs included the iconic Air Jordan 1 that was first introduced in 1985. This sneaker was designed for use by Chicago Bulls basketball player Michael Jordan. This line of shoes continues with a loyal fan base, with the 37th edition of the shoe released in 2022.

Several representatives from the Commodities shoe store in downtown Arlington brought part of the store’s vintage sneaker collection to be enjoyed by students. 

Jesse Avila, store partner, and UTA student, stated that events like For the Love of Sneakers showcase the different career paths this type of fashion can bring to a person. 

“When I heard about the event, I thought that it would be nice to display sneakers to allow people to see sneakers that they normally don’t see every day,” Jesse said. “More than anything, I wanted to show the impact that people could have as a fashion designer and even working with technology.” 

Jesse stated that events like this allow people to learn more about sneakers and their culture by getting the chance to hold a piece of history in their hands while creating a memory at the same time. 

Rodrigo Linapes, an International Business major and member of the Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball team, stated that his interest in shoes started with watching Michael Jordan on the court growing up. 

“Looking at how Michael Jordan shot the ball and was able to be crafty was just poetry in motion,” Rodrigo said. “Seeing how he played and made a sneaker culture with the Jordan 1’s, I wanted to invest myself in that, too.” 

Rodrigo stated that when he looks for a pair of sneakers to add to his collection, he looks at not necessarily the popularity but the story behind the laces. 

Calvin Mauldin, a CAP student, stated his interest in shoes grew from a young age when he noticed what sneakers people wear. He shared that he likes seeing how designers use the materials that make up sneakers in different ways to create something entirely new. 

Are you looking to test your knowledge on a variety of topics? Well, UTA Libraries is launching a new event, the Kahoot! Trivia Hour to put your knowledge to the test on Tuesday, Feb. 21. 

Grace Backus, a library specialist with the Community Engagement Department, stated that the Kahoot Trivia Hour is a great event to foster community in a fun trivia night atmosphere. At the same time, participants answer questions on various topics. 

“Some students use Kahoot in their classes because it is a fun learning tool. We have also used it in our orientation session, which is a lot of fun,” Grace said. “Kahoot is a website that allows you to answer questions through your phone. The question pops up on the screen along with the answer choices. You then can click the answer you want.” 

The Kahoot! Trivia Hour will have three categories of questions. These categories include Black History Month, book-to-movie adaptations, and where is this quote from? Anyone is welcome to come and join any of the three Kahoot games. They can choose to play solo or bring friends. Prizes will be given out during the games. Food and drink will be available for contestants and audience members.  

Grace stated the event was developed by one of the UTA Libraries student employees, Isis Abe, who thought it would be great to have a fun interactive event like this. 

“It was our student’s idea,” Grace said. “She came to us with a trivia idea, and we thought it was a great idea. So, we told her to roll with it.” 

The event takes place from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the UTA Central Library’s classroom, room 109, on the first floor. It is free and open to the public to attend.

Have you ever wanted to create candles that reflect your sense of style? With its newest event, The UTA Central Library is providing that opportunity on Thursday, Feb. 16. 

Grace Backus, a library specialist, stated that this new fun event was suggested by one of the library's student employees and should provide a fun evening activity. 

"This was one of our student's ideas. We were talking about makers' events, and she suggested candle-making," Grace said. "She was originally thinking about it for the Holiday Bash event in December. We loved the idea and thought it should be its own program." 

Grace stated that candle-making is not only fun but something that everyone can do as a group or on their own at home. 

During the event, participants will be taken through every step of the craft project, such as adding scents and dyes to the wax, when to pour the wax into the container, and how to keep the wick centered. 

"It won't take that long to make because we will have the wax melted. Students will be given a little tin in which their candles will be housed. From that point, it is all about attaching the wick to the tin," Grace said. "As students get their wax, they pour in their dye and their scents and mix it, making sure that it is the right temperature when they pour it into the tin." 

Grace stated the last step in the process is waiting for the candle to cool. The whole process should take around an hour to complete. 

The event takes place in the first-floor studio classroom at the UTA Central Library from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. The event is free for people to attend, but space is limited. Spaces in the workshop are on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. 

Students had the chance to relax from exams during the UTA Libraries' annual Holiday Bash held Friday, Dec. 9, at the Central Library. At the Bash, there were holiday treats to enjoy, craft activities and much more. 

Gretchen Trkay, Associate University librarian, stated that this event gives students a break from the stress and anxiety associated with finals to focus on something fun. 

"For the past several years, we have done a holiday bash for students during finals with all sorts of craft activities for them related to the holidays," Gretchen said. "As they are studying, if they want to take a five-minute break and destress, they can come and anticipate the holiday to come." 

Gretchen shared that her heart has always been in creating experiences for students. She wants students to know that UTA Libraries is not only there to assist them with their academics, but we also care about their mental and social health. 

Students attending the Holiday Bash could enjoy some cookies and hot beverages such as coffee and cocoa and then enjoy the reading of a holiday story on the first-floor stage. 

There were several craft projects that people could take part in, such as decorating their ornaments or making a gift. One of the gifts that students could make was a cookie mix in a jar. Participants in the craft would measure the ingredients, pour them into a glass jar and seal it with a lid. 

Samuel Geyer, a Computer Engineering major, was among the many students participating in the Central Library festivities. He enjoyed a cup of cocoa and some cookies and then had his photo taken with Santa.  

"It has been a pretty cool event, man. I love hot chocolate and a little bit of candy and cookies," Samuel said. "It is nice to have this during finals because it makes it a little relaxing." 

Samuel states that this event helps lessen the stress brought on by finals, giving students a moment to relax before returning to the books. 

Caroline Sandoval, a biology major, was making a gift for her mom during the Holiday Bash event. She shared that spending it with family is the thing she likes the most about this time of the year. She noted that her mom goes all-out for the Christmas season decorating the whole house. 

Rebecca Bichel, Dean of Libraries, shared Gretchen's thoughts about the need for this type of event at the library. 

"We know it is stressful at the end of the semester as students are finishing up projects and getting ready for finals. So, whether they have five minutes or two hours to spend with us, it is an opportunity to come over to do a project with us," Rebecca said. "They can make something simple to give as a gift, hang it on their tree, or decorate their home and can immediately see the results of the work." 

Rebecca stated that this event is a great way to connect with students outside the normal day-to-day library operations. She also thanked the library staff for the work they put into putting this event together. 

Library Patrons got the chance to learn more about art repatriation through a student-created escape room held in December at the UTA Central Library. The escape room provided people with a unique hands-on educational experience.  

Julia Baar, an Art History major, came up with the idea, built the escape room, and ran with some help as part of an independent study. Through this escape room, Baar wanted to test the educational value of gamifying the traditional museum experience and developing critical thinking skills.    

“I think that everyone who came through really enjoyed themselves. I have had a lot of students, a couple of professors, and children come through the escape room,” Baar said. “We had a bunch of failures in the beginning, but after we fixed and smoothed things out. People could solve the puzzle in the room in about 35-40 minutes.”  

Traditionally an escape room is a room or a series of rooms where a group of people is locked inside. While in the room, they have to solve a series of puzzles to escape the room within a certain amount of time.  

In Baar’s escape room on the second floor of the Central Library, participants had to solve puzzles related to art repatriation and successfully “escape” the room. Clues to solving these puzzles were scattered throughout the room.  

Baar stated that the feedback from people who went through the room was positive about having fun and the information they learned through solving the mystery. She is looking at publishing a paper about the experience and going into the field of art entertainment. Baar is looking at creating an expanded and upgraded version of the escape room she made at the library.    

To help create the escape room, Baar applied for an Open Initiatives Grant from UTA Libraries. The grant helped to pay for items for the room, such as lock boxes, to create an immersive experience for the user, along with paying for staff to operate the room when Baar was not on-site.   

The library also provided additional items from other departments to decorate the room.   

Nicole Spoor, Director of Experiential Learning, said the Open Initiatives Grant is used to help faculty use the library as a resource in the courses they teach at the university and to help students with projects.  

She noted that this past year, UTA Libraries saw some great projects from faculty and students, but they did not meet the grant qualifications. However, the grant qualifications were re-evaluated, which allowed the first student project, Julia Baar’s escape room, to be funded.  

Nicole stated the projects funded through the Open Initiatives Grant must focus on student success, utilize the library in some way, and the applicant must be willing to publish openly.  

She shared that Baar’s project highlighted all those aspects and was proud that UTA Libraries was happy to help her with the escape room.  

To find out more about the Open Initiatives Grant, https://libraries.uta.edu/services/teaching-learning/open-initiatives-grants. 

Students were greeted with wagging tails by the four dogs who were a part of the Doggy Daze event held Wednesday, Nov. 9. While visiting each animal, students learned about how therapy dogs help people cope with stressful situations.  

 

Dr. Teresa Doughty, the UTA College of Education Dean, brought her therapy dog, Boomer, a golden doodle, to visit with students. After researching therapy dogs' interaction with children with disabilities and seeing that positive interaction firsthand, Dr. Doughty knew she wanted to work with therapy dogs.  

 

"This is his 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. "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."  

Dr. Doughty stated that research has shown that petting and interacting with a dog has several positive effects, such as lowering stress and reducing blood pressure.  

 

The Mayo Clinic website states that pets can help people recover or to better cope with health problems they may be experiencing. Studies show that mood-boosting hormones oxytocin and dopamine are released when petting an animal. It also decreases the stress hormone cortisol. Pets help to reduce our stress and anxiety.  

Jazmin Martinez, a Nursing major, shared Dr. Doughty's feelings about the impact therapy dogs have on people.  

 

"I like being around dogs, and it is great that the library provides this as a stress reliever," Jazmin said. "I like the energy dogs have and how they can bring up a person's attitude and make someone's day. It was very calming." 

Students got the chance to tap into their creative side at the UTA Central Library. They carved out rubber stamps to make prints in the latest edition of Crafty Corner, held Thursday, Oct. 20. 

Britt Barker, UTA Libraries Student Assistant, stated that the stamps are created in a process called lithography. This process involved sketching a design on a piece of rubber and then removing the excess rubber with a carving tool. 

“Lithography is a stress-relieving print-making technique where you carve out all the negative space, and what is left is your positive space,” Britt said. “That positive space is what you see on the stamp.” 

Britt, who is an art major, stated she thought this would be a great activity to share with other students. It is an art form that is very teachable and something that a person can do on their own at home in their spare time. 

Anna Nguyen, a biology major, stated she came to the class to try something different. She noted that being creative can be a valuable skill as a student and a professional. 

“I think that this is pretty fun. It is very helpful for people who want to open a small business maybe,” Anna said. “They can figure out the process of making stamps if they want to hand make it for their business.” 

 Anna shared Britt’s thought that the activity is a good stress reliever and allows a person to refocus. 

Danielle Odjegba, a business management major, was working on creating a Halloween-themed stamp that she could use as she works with children at her church as a volunteer. She shared that the children enjoy getting their papers decorated with stamps. With Halloween coming up, Danielle wanted to be a bit more creative. 

For upcoming events at UTA Libraries, check out our website at https://libraries.uta.edu or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Several tail-wagging friends helped put smiles on students' faces at the Doggy Daze event held at the UTA Central Library Wednesday, Oct. 12. Students visited these animals and learned about their role as therapy dogs. 

Dr. Scott Ryan, the School of Social Work Dean, brought his therapy dog, Moose, to visit with students to give them a much-needed break from their studies. During each session, Moose, a French Bulldog, visited with students giving them love and attention. 

"This event is nice because it makes students more relaxed and comfortable. We have also gone to nursing homes and elementary schools. This past summer, we went down to work with unaccompanied minor children in South Texas," Scott said. "These were migrant kids, and most did not speak English. They were afraid of dogs and such. They would start sitting over on the other side of the room, and by the end, they would brush him." 

Scott stated that to help people feel comfortable with Moose, he brings a photo book created about him. The book features Moose in several costumes or doing daily activities with Scott, such as shopping at Target. He noted that the book helps people to warm up to Moose and to see that "transition is special.” 

Dr. Jennifer Cowley, UTA President, stopped by the central library to visit with students and dogs that were a part of the event. 

"Having a Doggy Daze is a perfect way to release a little bit of stress during the day. I thought it would be great to come out to be with our students and the wonderful dogs we have here today," Dr. Cowley said. "I just think that this is wonderful that the libraries are hosting this and helping to create a special experience for our students." 

Brittney Contreras, a Nursing major, shared similar thoughts about how dogs help to improve a person's mental health. 

"I have had family in the mental health profession, and since I am going to be in that, they told me to spend time with dogs and animals because it is very stressful, and they are good for relieving stress," Brittney said. "They (the dogs) help to relieve the stress from exams and midterms." 

Lizeth Godinez, an Art major, stated she had seen the dogs' positive effects on people.  

"I haven't done therapy, but I have seen how some of my friends have gotten involved with therapy dogs,” Lizeth said. ”Even though it is not the same as talking with somebody, it does help." 

On Sept. 28, the Community Engagement department hosted the 'LinkedIn and Networking Workshop' in The Studios at UTA Libraries, where students learned how to build their networking skills, helping them expand their network and aiding their job-hunting efforts. 

For Cynthia Jackson, a Philanthropy Major, the workshop was eye-opening. "I'm walking from this with a lot of information that I didn't really know about," Cynthia said.  

 This event is a part of an initiative that gives students learning opportunities, inspiring them to think critically about their profiles so that they may establish and maintain a strong online presence and network with professionals. 

"I was low-key nervous about going (to the workshop), and then it was chill and calm about learning about networking, and how to utilize your LinkedIn to the highest potential, and not undersell or oversell yourself, utilizing it in a way so you can be more successful," said Jarrell Sharp, an undeclared freshman. 

“A lot of times, students do not have that guidance when it comes to building their network, so we want to help them on those first steps,” said Milaun Murry, Experiential Learning and Outreach Librarian. “My hope is that the participants will go home, create a LinkedIn profile, and start connecting with people.” 

MavAwareness hosted its most recent wellness workshop in The Studios on the first floor of the UTA Libraries on Sept. 21. The session focused on the importance of mental health and highlighting ways of tackling stress. 

Aaron Machbitz AKA Jaxon Stone, President and Founder of "You Are Loved," helped students with some mindfulness tips to get them through the academic year.  

"Mental health is the most important thing because it is how we think, feel and act. And it encompasses our every day," Aaron said. "We aim to become an individual that is proactive with our mental health, then that's the greatest investment we can make to our overall well-being and becoming the best version of ourselves."  

Nayelli Calderon, a history major, found the experience to be insightful.  

"The things he spoke about were easy to understand and made more sense than what I've been hearing before," Nayelli said.  

For Milaun Murry, Experiential Learning librarian, the workshop's primary goal is to give students some opportunities when it comes to mental health awareness, to either learn or experience new things.  

“One of the great things that came out of working with 'You Are Loved,' was that students were able to hear from a speaker who is able to connect with them," she said. "The students walked away with something they will surely use in the future (and) that makes the effort worth it." 

Are you looking to develop new skills to make everyday tasks around the home easier? Starting on Thursday, Sept. 15, Sew Sustainable is returning to the UTA Central Library to do just that by helping people take worn-out objects and transform them into something new and useful again. 

Grace Backus, a Library Specialist with the Events, Experiential Learning and Outreach department, stated that Sew Sustainable started last semester and has gotten a lot of positive feedback. 

“Sew Sustainable started with the idea of utilizing the FabLab’s sewing equipment and having an event where students can learn to sew,” Grace said. “I wanted to focus on mending clothing and how to revitalize clothing for different purposes instead of having to go out and buy a new pair of jeans.” 

The first workshop for the fall semester will focus on creating beeswax wraps. Beeswax wraps are an alternative to single-use plastics to cover food for later use. In the workshop, the wraps will be made using repurposed cotton sheets. The sheets will be coated with food-grade beeswax and dipped into a pine resin. 

“Once it hardens, it becomes this moldable wax fabric that you can put over things that works similar to plastic wrap, but then you can rinse it off and use it again,” Grace said. “After a while, you can recoat it when the wax wears down.” 

Grace stated it is neat to be able to teach someone a skill like mending a hole in socks. It is not only practical and saves money, but it is a skill that a person will use throughout life. 

“Students have really enjoyed it because it is something that is not often taught. They are like, ‘I ddn’t know how to do this, and I have been wanting to do this,’” Grace said. “We have had students who come with their clothing that need repair. We encourage students to do that, if they have something that fits the bill for what we are doing in the workshop.” 

The Sew Sustainable workshop takes place once a month. The workshop is free to attend, and no registration is required, but it is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  

The topics for upcoming Sew Sustainable workshops include: 

• October – Costume recycling and revitalization 

• November – Repurpose yarn from old sweaters to create something new 

The first Sew Sustainable class will be from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, in the studio classroom on the first floor of the Central Library. 

Grace wants to encourage everyone to come out, have fun, learn something new and discover new hidden talents.

UTA Libraries is partnering with Dallas-based company Turn Compost to educate students about the importance of sustainable living through smart cooking methods and composting. The event will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12, at the Central Library. 

Grace Backus, a Library Specialist with the Experiential Learning and Outreach Department, stated that the Turn Compost event would give students the knowledge to make the most of the food they use daily. 

"We have a lot of food waste in our country, which is a big problem because all that extra food is decomposing, releasing carbon into the atmosphere," Grace said. "With events like Maverick Kitchen and Turn Compost, we are showing how we can use this food to its fullest ability and not waste any of it." 

Turn Compost's mission is to reduce and recycle food waste across the DFW Metroplex. They work with businesses and households to reduce their environmental impact by collecting organic waste and transporting it to local farmers and other partners who recycle it responsibly. Turn Compost also works to educate and consult on sustainability practices related to the food cycle. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture website stated that U.S. food waste is estimated at between 30 to 40% of the food supply. This is based on USDA estimates of 31% food loss at the retail and consumer levels. This added up to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010. 

The demonstration event led by Turn Compost will teach attendees, when they create a meal in the kitchen, how to use all the ingredients in the dish to their fullest extent, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. Food samples will be available during the demonstration. The demonstration takes students from the kitchen to the composting bin. 

Grace shared that in previous Turn Composting events, one of the items used to demonstrate this was a bell pepper. 

"We talked about harvesting the seeds from the bell peppers and what part of the peppers are edible. You can actually eat (a lot of parts) that people throw away," Grace said. "We talked about the different parts of the bell pepper that are compostable and went through all the steps of cutting them up to use to their fullest extent." 

No registration is required to attend the event, but it is on a first-come, first-serve basis. More information about the event can be found online at https://mavorgs.uta.edu or through the UTA Libraries' social media channels on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Questions about the Turn Compost event can be emailed to elo_tl@UTA.edu. 

Samuel Law, University of Texas at Arlington class of 2021, was working toward his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering when he joined the FabLab more than two years ago.

“My wife had just finished up her master's degree and I was looking for a change of scenery from my old job,” Law said. “Looking at the Fablab, there seemed to be significant upside in terms of learning new skills, such as 3D printing, CNC milling, laser cutting, and more.”

The job exceeded Law’s expectations—in his time as a student assistant, he gained nearly a dozen transferrable skills from the FabLab, and even discovered some interests he otherwise would not have known to pursue.

“Student workers like Sam leave our employ with a wide variety of transferrable skills like critical thinking, lateral thinking, and problem-solving,” said Eric Olson, FabLab Technician and Law’s supervisor. “Students like Sam who volunteer to work on special projects also gain valuable experience in how the design process works and how to both manage your time well and stay disciplined during the less-enjoyable parts of them.”

Olson says students like Law also learn skills such as utilizing multiple platforms for CAD design, laser/vinyl cutting, and other CNC-operated tool usage, and how to incorporate the limits of a tool and design a project to stay within them.

“We also hope they use the creativity and versatility of the space to explore new sides of themselves and discover more of who they are,” Olson said.

For Olson, the exchange of education goes both ways.

“There is always a give and take between myself and the employee working on a special project, and we are grateful for the opportunity to both teach our student employees, learn from their efforts, and to see what they are capable of when given the space to bring their concepts to a working end product,” Olson said. “Sam has been a valuable member of our team for many years now, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.”

Law’s student experience was shaped by working at the FabLab, which is housed on the first floor of UTA Libraries.

“My supervisors were experienced in both hardware and software prototyping, thus when I got stuck, I had people to turn to for help beyond my professors or TAs,” Law said. “In addition to improving my results in class, working on special projects at the FabLab provided opportunities to apply what I was learning in my upper-level engineering classes.”

The new graduate had just one piece of advice for current Mavericks who are considering applying for positions in the Libraries.

“Work at the FabLab,” Law said. “It's a great experience; you won't regret it.”

Now that he is on the cusp of his next steps, which include continuing his education as a non-degree-seeking student, Law is thinking about what he will miss most about the FabLab.

“[It’s] the full-time staff,” he said. “They're great people, and I have a lot of respect for their ability to put together such a quality work environment.”

Students interested in applying to work in the FabLab (or elsewhere in the Libraries) can see all open positions in HandShake.

Vikram Gupta, University of Texas at Arlington graduate student in computer science and research assistant in the UTA FabLab, has been selected for a coveted Tesla internship.

The internship will take place at Tesla’s headquarters in Palo Alto, California and last for at least the spring 2021 semester, with the possibility of extending beyond that.

“Our student workers make us proud day in and day out,” said Rebecca Bichel, dean of UTA Libraries. “We have had students leave our employ for internships at the Smithsonian, Getty, and now Tesla—all just in the last year. But no matter where they go when they graduate, we are grateful for the opportunity to work with them as they pursue their Maverick educations.”

Eric Olson, FabLab Technician and Gupta’s direct supervisor, expressed pride over his placement and well wishes for his time at Tesla.

“I hope he absolutely kills it while he’s there and is, at the very least, invited back for a second internship round,” Olson said. “I also hope Vikram is groomed for and then offered a permanent position once he’s completed his master’s. This could end up being a golden opportunity for him.”

Olson says the work experience students like Gupta receive in the FabLab prepare them for similar high-level internships.

“Student workers in the FabLab should expect to learn a lot of critical-thinking, design-process, problem-solving, and CAD-oriented skills,” Olson said. “Our student workers also become very skilled at effectively educating others. Most of their day-to-day job is to break down complicated ideas and processes into basic concepts and discrete steps and orient those pieces into information someone new to the entire concept can successfully digest and apply—all important to qualifying them for the work that top-tier internships will ask them to do.”

Gupta says his specialized training in the FabLab was crucial to his Tesla application.

“My main purpose with this job is to keep all the machines working and have minimum down time for our learners,” Gupta said. “All of the things I learned to do this job, if not directly, indirectly helped me get this internship.”

For Gupta, working at UTA Libraries was more than just a job—it was part of his college experience.

“Working here makes me feel more like I’m part of the university than just a normal student going to school here,” Gupta said. “This job not only helps me monetarily but also helps provide me a sense of contribution, purpose, and belonging. I’m proud and grateful to have such a nice university experience.”

Junior Brayden Itz remembers feeling slightly intimidated the first time he visited the FabLab at the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

“I think this is because I wasn't sure if I would get the opportunity to fully learn about all the different creative processes that the space had to offer,” he said.

After this first visit in 2019, however, Itz began visiting the FabLab more regularly, using the 3D printers as well as the laser and vinyl cutters.

“Over the course of that semester, I became more and more comfortable walking into the lab whenever I wanted to and asking someone for help,” he said. “I could definitely tell that the FabLab staff enjoyed helping learners work on their projects.”

When the opportunity presented itself to participate in an internship with Art + Art History Department in the FabLab, Itz jumped at the opportunity to gain formal knowledge while advancing in his academic goals.

This internship, developed as partnership between FabLab Librarian Morgan Chivers and former Art + Art History Chair Robert Hower, provided a combination of equipment training and design development for Itz and three other students. The final portion of the internship offered participants the opportunity to reflect on their time in the FabLab and anticipate future uses of the FabLab in their academic careers.

“We wanted to give students the opportunity to receive an immersive experience—and to skill-up—while they still had years of access to look forward to,” Chivers said. “Even before we find out exactly how this program will impact the creative process of each of the four talented students we had as interns this spring, I hope we will be able to iterate this internship with another group of students soon!”

Hower says the internship reflects the overall leadership of UTA Libraries and its dean, Rebecca Bichel.

“It takes a quality vision to provide direction for a major university library,” Hower said. “Clearly, Dean Bichel has provided UTA with a facility and passion that is transformative and committed to innovation, especially in the area of technology.”

Hower also praised Chivers for his work in bringing the internship to life—and seeing it through as the program transitioned to an online-only environment halfway through the semester.

“The time and effort that Morgan Chivers put into this program is to be commended,” he said. “I knew Morgan was committed to the program, our department, and the students of UTA, but his management, guidance, and ongoing development of the internship program during the academic year was inspirational.”

For Itz, the FabLab has transformed, too—he has recently been brought on as a student worker, something Hower says was always a goal of the program.

Itz is honest about his initial concerns coming into the space—and encourages others who feel the same to conquer their fears to explore the FabLab’s possibilities.

“For anyone who's intimidated by the FabLab, I would say that I was right there with you!” he said. “It truly feels like a privilege getting to use all the tools they have available in the space, and I highly recommend getting in there and seeing what you can create, because odds are you'll probably end up surprising yourself.”

Users can book a virtual consultation with the FabLab with the FabLab Alternate Consultation Experience (F.A.C.E.).

Two members of the student staff in Special Collections at the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries have received prestigious post-graduation placements for the summer of 2020.

Jessica Khazem (left) has been awarded an advanced undergraduate scholar’s grant through the J. Paul Getty Foundation to conduct research at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles. Mya Lewis (right) will be participating in a virtual internship with the Smithsonian Institution as a curatorial assistant for the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, focusing on their African textiles project.

“Jessica and Mya have done incredible work while at UTA Libraries and we are proud of their many accomplishments,” said Brenda McClurkin, department head of Special Collections. “We know that they will make lasting contributions to the Smithsonian and Getty, as they have done with us.”

Khazem and Lewis, who earned Bachelor of Art degrees in Art History from UTA in May 2020, joined Special Collections in Fall 2019 as part of a Faculty Teaching in the Archives grant awarded to Dr. Leah McCurdy focused on scanning and developing metadata for the Franke collection of African maps.

The initial internships turned into more for both Khazem and Lewis, and arrangements were made with UTA Libraries to fund an additional semester for them to assist Cartographic Archivist Ben Huseman in curating the exhibition of the Franke collection titled “Searching for Africa” slated for Fall 2020 as well as work with McCurdy on pedagogical developments for her course titled “Arts of Sub-Saharan Africa.”

“Jessica and Mya have grown immensely in their professionalism, time management, communicative clarity, and in their confidence,” McCurdy said. “Those improvements took time and the willingness to listen to feedback, took courage despite the fear of failure, and took careful thinking about what paths they want to take in the arts.”

McCurdy says she—and the rest of the art history faculty—are proud of Khazem and Lewis’s hard work and post-graduation placements.

“They both earned those honors,” McCurdy said. “I look forward to seeing what they accomplish because these experiences have set them up to pursue very meaningful professional lives, bringing awareness to neglected artistic traditions, the value of cultural pluralism, and the importance of the arts in our lives.”

Lewis’s first experience with Special Collections came when she was a student assistant in TRiO Student Support Services and asked to scan TRiO memorabilia photographs that were housed in Special Collections.

“This is was my first experience working with primary sources!” Lewis said. “After I finished scanning these photographs, I visited the exhibition over the female cartoonist, Etta Hulme. I still have the souvenir pin, provided to guests attending the exhibition, on my backpack.”

Khazem came to Special Collections for the first time through the internship with McCurdy, and is grateful for the exposure it gave her to what Special Collections has to offer UTA students.

“As an art history student focused on nonwestern cultures, arts, and histories, the opportunity to work with an understudied nonwestern topic such as Africa was extremely valuable and supplemental for my education and interests,” Khazem said. “Working with Ben Huseman was especially valuable since he is an incredibly knowledgeable professional on cartography and history in general.”

Khazem says her experience working in Special Collections had profound effects on her overall experience as a UTA Maverick.

“Prior to my opportunity with Special Collections, I’ll admit I was not as involved at UTA nor was I aware of the various opportunities available within my field,” Khazem said. “I have developed long-lasting and professional relationships both with some of the faculty in Special Collections as well as Dr. Leah McCurdy and my colleague Mya Lewis, who I will no doubt continue to collaborate with on nonwestern art historic projects moving forward into our professional careers.”

Lewis concurs with Khazem, and says this isn’t the last time she will be in UTA’s Special Collections.

“My experience at Special Collections heavily impacted my overall university experience and relationship with UTA because of the hands-on experience and knowledge gained from working in a field related to my major,” Lewis said. “This was an invaluable experience and I cannot wait to attend ‘Searching for Africa’ when it opens in the fall.”

Users can view the Franke maps that Khazem and Lewis have scanned in the Libraries Digital Gallery.

Olamide Daramola came to the University of Texas at Arlington to get a world-class nursing education. What he got in his job at UTA Libraries was incomparable professional training he will carry into his future.

Daramola, a senior graduating in December 2019, has worked as a Research Coach for UTA Libraries for almost two years. Research Coaches are UTA students trained to offer peer-to-peer help for students seeking individualized assistance with their research and course assignments. They help frame research questions, develop search strategies, understand citation styles, and select and evaluate relevant resources.

Daramola says he took the job at the recommendation of a friend and never looked back.

“For me, it’s the people,” Daramola said. “It’s the clients I get to help every day, with varying levels of knowledge and skill. It sometimes can be challenging when I don’t know the answer, but it pushes me to get the answer and learn for the future.”

When those challenges arise, Daramola knows he has the support of his leadership.

“The supervisors are wonderful,” Daramola said. “They give us a sense of love, like someone is out there looking out for us.”

While the connection between his work as a Research Coach and his career as a nurse might not be obvious, Daramola says the Libraries is an excellent learning environment for critical professional skills he will take into his future.

“This job has been a really great place to build critical thinking skills, which you need as a nurse,” Daramola said. “Different people from different backgrounds come with different questions asked in different ways. Relating that to clinicals, different patients have different needs at different times.

“It is a blessing to be able to figure out what others need and know how to help them, and my job in the Libraries has helped me develop that skill.”

Daramola was also a recipient of the Libraries’ Student Leadership Scholarship award in 2018—an honor he didn’t see coming.

“I never thought I was going to get that,” he said. “I was a just a couple of semesters into the job. But my bosses helped me realize the skills I had gained at that time—as well as the ones I had brought into the job that I didn’t know I had.”

Daramola recommends working at UTA Libraries to his fellow students because of the flexibility as well as invaluable knowledge gained on the job.

“Every supervisor understands that you are a student first,” Daramola said. “And the skills you learn—critical thinking, great customer service—you can only get them at the Libraries.”

Daramola suggests taking advantage of training sessions when starting a new Libraries job.

“Ask as many questions as you can—no question is dumb,” Daramola said. “Seek advice from those who are also at the job, and bring any concerns to your supervisor. They are always willing to help.”

As Daramola prepared to walk the stage and begin his career as a nurse, he thanked his fellow student workers, his supervisors, and every librarian and staff member of UTA Libraries.

“They have all shaped the nurse I am going to become, whether they know it or not,” he said. “I am so grateful for every opportunity to learn and grow I’ve been given.”

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UTA Libraries is proud to support student workers like Olamide as they work toward their futures beyond college. To see what student positions are available, look for UTA Libraries on Handshake.

UTA Libraries has invested in new training and leadership programs focused on building professional confidence that will help student employees succeed in careers beyond their work in the Libraries.

This initiative, which saw its first organization-wide session in January 2019, supports the Libraries’ overall strategic objectives to create leaders and facilitate the academic and professional success of UTA students and faculty.

“Our student employees bring so much to their roles,” said Rebecca Bichel, Dean for UTA Libraries. “We are committed to our responsibility not only to provide them a place to work while they are in school, but to help them expand their professional skill-sets for the leadership roles they will assume after graduation.”

Before UTA Libraries launched this program, however, a few full-time staff members received specialized training, says Kerri Ressl, Director of Organizational Excellence and Leadership Strategy.

“We want the student supervisors to feel empowered with decision-making and other service skills before asking them to guide their students,” Ressl said.

The primary goal of the new training program is simple: that student employees will demonstrate more confidence toward achieving professional success as a direct result of the training and leadership they receive while employed by UTA Libraries.

The more specific goal is to have at least 80% of student employees report an increase in professional confidence after they receive the new training. This is measured through a post-training assessment, which asks participants to report whether they feel more, less, or the same confidence in their professional skills like problem solving and customer service after the session.

“About 83% of the 88 student employees who attended our second organization-wide session reported an increase in professional confidence after receiving the training,” Ressl said. “We are happy that the training is resonating with our student employees and hope their confidence grows even more in their time with us.”

UTA Libraries continues to explore ways to deepen its training initiatives, both for student employees and full-time staff, with plans to launch additional programs in 2020.

UTA Libraries played host to more than 20 university systems and higher education organizations Nov. 11-13 for a meeting of the Driving OER Sustainability for Student Success (DOERS³) Collaborative.

DOERS³ was established in 2017 by the University System of Maryland (USM), City University of New York (CUNY), and State University of New York (SUNY) and launched in the fall of 2018. This collaborative is open to public higher education systems and state/province-wide organizations that support large-scale Open Educational Resources (OER) initiatives and are committed to advancing innovation in OER.

The meeting at UTA was set to narrow down a list of SMART projects—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based—that would advance three components of the work: equity, research, and capacity-building. Members met in person as well as virtually.

Rebecca Bichel, dean of UTA Libraries, was joined by Rebecca Karoff, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the UT System, in welcoming leaders from:

• Affordable Learning Georgia
• Affordable Learning Solutions
• Alabama Commission on Higher Education
• BC Campus
• CCCOER
• Colorado Community College System
• Colorado Department of Higher Education
• Community College System of New Hampshire
• Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System
• CUNY System
• Deep Consulting
• eCampusOntario
• Higher Education Compacts
• Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
• MHEC
• OhioLINK
• Open Oregon
• SUNY System
• Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
• University of Colorado System
• University of Connecticut
• University of Maryland System
• University of Texas - Austin
• University of Wisconsin System Administration
• Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

Karoff was impressed by the reception she received at UTA and looks forward to the future of OER in the hands of UTA Libraries.

“The UTA Libraries serves as a hub of student engagement, deep learning and success with a set of innovative programs that are absolutely awe-inspiring,” Karoff said. “The UTA Libraries are a model—they set a gold standard—for what libraries are and can be.”

Deepak “Deep” Shenoy, owner of Deep Consulting and manager of DOERS³, says that, in addition to the core goals of the meeting, the coalition was able to accomplish some much-needed teambuilding.

“We had a chance to build networks and collaboration among different state systems,” Shenoy said. “I think we really learned a lot from each other…Dean Bichel and her team’s hospitality added a lot of energy and warmth to the meeting that helped us get that done.”

Bichel says the meeting exceeded even her highest expectations and inspired her as well as her colleagues to more deeply explore opportunities and partnerships to enhance the openness and affordability of learning materials for UTA students.

“UTA is a preeminent OER institution, and still there is so much to learn,” Bichel said. “From the breakout sessions to the one-on-one discussions, the exchange of ideas and knowledge has been excellent. I hope as the DOERS³ Collaborative continue to meet we pioneer no-cost solutions for students around the country.”

UTA recently invested $500,000 to fund OER led by UTA Libraries in the 2019-20 academic year, the largest award by a public academic institution in the state of Texas specifically supporting such initiatives.

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In the photo, from left to right:

Leslie Kennedy, Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor, California State University; M.J. Bishop, Associate Vice Chancellor & Director, Kirwan Center, University System of Maryland; Robert Awkward, Director of Learning Outcomes Assessment, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education; Jeff Gallant, Program Director, Affordable Learning Georgia; Ann Fiddler, Open Education Librarian, CUNY; Brittany Dudek, Library Coordinator, Colorado Community College System; Andrew McKinney, OER Coordinator, CUNY; Deepak Shenoy, Deep Consulting; Julie Pohlman, Library Program Director, University of Wisconsin System; Clarenda Phillips, Provost & VP for Academic Affairs, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; Deborah Keyek-Franssen, Associate Vice President for Digital Education & Engagement, University of Colorado System; Michelle Reed, Director of Open Educational Resources, UTA Libraries; Rebecca Karoff, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UT System; Rebecca Bichel, Dean of UTA Libraries.

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Facebook-friendly version: UTA Libraries played host to more than 20 university systems and higher education organizations Nov. 11-13 for a meeting of the Driving OER Sustainability for Student Success (DOERS³) Collaborative.

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Supporting The University of Texas at Arlington and the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region, UTA Libraries create transformational learning experiences by connecting people to first-class resources, empowering knowledge creation, exploring ideas and pursuing innovations in learning. The UTA FabLab offers all students access to cutting-edge technology for research in digital fabrication and data visualization. UTA Libraries Special Collections focuses on the history of Texas, Mexico and the Southwest, and includes one of the finest cartographical collections on Texas and the Gulf of Mexico in the world. The Libraries recently completed an $800,000 cold storage preservation vault for its collection of approximately 5 million photographic negatives. To learn more about UTA Libraries, please visit http://library.uta.edu.

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For more information on this story, please contact:

Alexandra Pirkle, Editorial Services Coordinator

817-272-1502

alexandra.pirkle@uta.edu