Library Lovers Month

February is Library Lovers Month! Here are few ways the UW-Green Bay Libraries, and libraries in general, work hard all year to earn a whole month of love.

1. The Library is a perfect gathering place to discuss important topics and promote civil discourse. This semester the Cofrin Library will facilitate several book discussions on the Greater Green Bay Community Reads selection, Waking Up White: Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debbie Irving. We are also hosting the traveling exhibit I Am Psyched, a celebration of women of color in the field of psychology. We encourage you to contact us about possible partnerships for events or exhibits.

2. The UW-Green Bay Libraries are big supporters of visual arts! The libraries at Green Bay, Marinette, and Manitowoc all showcase student and faculty created art. If you are on the Green Bay campus, walk on over to the Cofrin Library for a self-guided art tour, all floors have multiple UWGB created pieces. The Manitowoc library features acoustic art panels created by a digital imaging and design class. The library at Marinette has many student and faculty pieces, including the nine flying birds, pictured below.

Painted paper-mache birds created by Marinette Campus students hang in formation from the library ceiling.

3. Libraries are defenders of the first amendment. Library organizations provide education and advocacy to fight censorship, protect intellectual freedom, and guarantee access to information. We support strong net neutrality legislation and work to expand access to scholarly content. When you support libraries, you support your right to informed free speech.

4. The Archives and Area Research Center in the Cofrin Library is a great place to dig into primary sources. The Archives staff works with classes from many different disciplines to help students develop their research and analytical thinking skills, often through collaborative public projects. View some of their recent collaborations with UW-Green Bay courses.

UWGB students working with original materials from the Archives collections.

5. The UW- Green Bay Libraries design collections based on our curriculum and research needs, while making the best use of our budget. We carefully choose print material, e-books, journal collections, and databases based on need and usage statistics. Feedback and suggestions for our collections are always welcome.

By Renee Ettinger

Renee Ettinger is the Assistant Library Director for Research & Outreach Services for the UW-Green Bay Libraries. Renee is an active participant in the library’s information literacy program and is the library liaison for the fine and performing arts. Her professional interests include critical librarianship, digital literacy, and information ethics.

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