Community Engagement

The Libraries enhances the delivery of the University's Land Grant mission through community engagement.

September

Dr. Baligh Ben Taleb is the inaugural winner of the Bruce and Nora James Visiting Scholar Award for the Study of Nevada Politics and Public Service

The Libraries, with the help of Bruce and Nora James, launched the University's first ever visiting scholar support award dedicated to research in SCUA. The Bruce and Nora James Visiting Scholar Award for the Study of Nevada Politics and Public Service funds travel, lodging, and expenses for one out-of-state scholar per summer to spend an extended amount of time working with the unique historical political and public service materials available only in SCUA.

Dr. Baligh Ben Taleb was the inaugural winner. He is a former Fulbright Scholar, and Assistant Professor in the American Indian Studies Department of San Francisco State University. Dr. Taleb's research made use of SCUA's extensive records on Newe (Western Shoshone) land and treaty rights.

Elspeth Olson stands in the Vault classroom doing a demonstration.

University Libraries' Vault Studio Classroom: A rare gem in academia

The recently renovated classroom comfortably accommodates 36 students with 18 tables. One of the major instructional tools in the space includes a cutting-edge, ceiling-mounted, high-tech document camera.

At the grand opening event, Dean of Libraries Catherine Cardwell, University President Brian Sandoval, former three-term Nevada Attorney General and former University of Nevada, Reno student body President Frankie Sue Del Papa, director of Distinctive Collections and head of SCUA Kimberly Anderson, and Outreach and Public Services Archivist Elspeth Olson interacted with guests, donors and VIPs.

During his remarks, President Sandoval said, "Innovative teaching is at the core of the University's academic mission. Now, it will come alive in a new, progressive environment inside the Knowledge Center that speaks to the academic and scholarly excellence of our Carnegie Rl 'very high' research institution."

October

Captain Underpants cookies displayed on a table.

Edible Banned Books Festival

Each fall semester the Libraries Outreach Committee, faculty and staff host the Edible Banned Books Festival to show their shared support of the freedom to read. Banned Books Week helps draw local and national attention to the harms of censorship. Event attendees were presented with opportunities to learn about banned and challenged books, view and vote for their favorite edible banned book creation. Each of the clever, food-related, edible banned book themed entries included in the Festival were created by Libraries faculty and/or staff.

'A Journey Through 150 Years' celebrating the University's history and accomplishments

The Libraries served the campus community, providing helpful, informative, user-friendly resources to help guide and assist those celebrating the 750th. Libraries experts and librarians assisted users in finding materials in the collection, locating historical photographs, identifying event planning resources, sharing lendable technology and providing printing support.

University Libraries Exhibits and Displays:

First floor

  • Notable alumni
  • President Sandoval Commencement Celebration

Second floor

  • Milestones display
  • Innovations display, Summer 2024
  • Interactive University timeline
  • Paint the N diorama
  • University Presidents
  • Aerial campus photography
  • Patents

Third floor

  • Special Collections and University Archives-specific exhibits:
  • Building a State University, Oct. 2023 - Feb. 2024
  • Building a Campus Community, Feb. 2024 - June 2024
  • Building a Team, June 2024 - Oct. 2024

Fourth floor

  • Traditions display

Libraries launches ScholarWolf

ScholarWolf is the institutional repository for the University of Nevada, Reno. Managed by the Libraries, ScholarWolf is an open access database and the home of scholarly works by University members, including the electronic theses and dissertations of our graduate students.journal articles, conference presentations, and more.

'Nevada's Silver Lady: Barbara Vucanovich and Nevada Women in Politics'

"Nevada's Silver Lady: Barbara Vucanovich and Nevada Women in Politics" explored the multi-decade political career of the first Nevada woman elected to federal office, Barbara Farrell Vucanovich. Vucanovich was a trailblazer for Nevada women in federal office. The Libraries extends its appreciation to the Cafferata family for their donation of Barbara Vucanovich's political papers to SCUA, and for their financial support in processing the collection and creating this exhibit.

November

Portrait of Michael Branch
Portrait of Laura Newman

Nevada Writers Hall of Fame

2024 honorees include Hall of Fame inductee Michael Branch and Silver Pen awardee Laura Newman.

Dean Cardwell hosted the event which took place on the first floor, inside the Mathewson­-lGT Knowledge Center's Marilyn R. Melton Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Gallery, the Leslie Harvey and Robert George Whittemore Tower Entry and Reception Gallery, and Wells Fargo Auditorium.

Inductee Michael Branch said, "Like many writers, I do much of my work in relative isolation, without the camaraderie inherent to a collaborative art form like filmmaking. To me, the Hall of Fame has always been a home for writers in our state, and its inductees are literary artists whose work I've studied, taught, and been inspired by throughout my career. Having the opportunity to join that group means helping to strengthen a mutually supportive community of writers in order to share with others the encouragement I've long received from the NWHOF and its supporters."