Dean’s Message, January 2025

It’s a new year and here at the Marriott Library we’re ready to welcome students back to spring semester! We’ll be starting off by hosting a discussion for MLK Week, “Faith and the Fight: A Conversation about the Black Church and the Civil Rights Movement.” Moderated by Pastor Emeritus France Davis and including panelists from four Black Churches across the Wasatch Front, this discussion is free and open to the public.

We also have two exhibitions on level 4. In the Special Collections reading room we have a ballet exhibition that highlights the Ballet West collections. Materials from several ballets, including the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty set designs, are on display along with some other treasures. And the “Booking a Brouhaha” exhibition features incredible student work from the spring and fall Book Arts courses.

Students who are just starting this semester will learn that librarians are out and about, embedded in classrooms, and that there is a librarian just for them–specialized to their field of study. These subject specialists consult with students, saving endless time in researching, and teaching students where to find the most credible information.

I’m delighted to see the library bursting with students as they head into spring semester—some of them here for only a few more months if they’re planning on graduating. Regardless of where the student is in their journey, a new chapter awaits. And the library is here to provide a helpful hand.

Happy New Year,

Sarah L. Shreeves
Alice Sheets Marriott Dean of Libraries