Interpreting Atmosphere or Environment
The University of Florida's George A. Smathers Libraries established the Undergraduate Library Advisors (ULA) program in 2021, with the goal of making students aware of the academic, wellness, and creative resources available in the six campus libraries.
The program, overseen by Jasmine Simmons and Patricia Takacs, selects students based on their experience with content creation and outreach, connections to student organizations, and interest in library work. ULA cohort members are in their second year or higher and, after six weeks of training, plan, host, and participate in student engagement activities, represent the library at campuswide events, and create promotional materials.
Each ULA member also devises a passion project, such as a new promotional or instructional resource for students, or a new student engagement event. In 2024, ULA member Sophia Medina created a new student engagement project called a pop-up library reading room.
The pop-up reading room was designed to promote UF's collections to a broad student audience and was set up at a campus convention called SwampCon, an event celebrating Japanese arts, fashion, gaming, pop culture, cosplay, and performance arts. The student who initiated the Pop-up Library Reading Room for the SwampCon convention was Mary Lamb.
Sophia Medina handpicked over 70 items from several campus libraries for the pop-up reading room, including manga, graphic novels, and related resources. Convention attendees could browse the reading room or relax with a book, with a curated mix of well-known titles and lesser-known gems. Library staff were available to check out materials to students on the spot at the pop-up library reading room.
Fliers were provided to help students locate library collections in library branches, and informational brochures about other offerings across the campus libraries were also available. The pop-up library reading room reinforced the importance of aligning library programs with students' interests and was successful in raising awareness about the library's collection of manga, graphic novels, and related resources among students.
The ULA program consists of four students who help spread awareness about the library's resources. By engaging students in creative and interactive ways, the ULA program is ensuring that the library remains an essential resource for students at the University of Florida.
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