All exhibits are free and open to the public during the same hours as the building in which they are housed, unless otherwise specified and with occasional exceptions for maintenance.
Smathers Library Gallery | January 29, 2024 – April 26, 2024
The Learning and Labor of the Blind
The materials in this exhibit contain compelling stories about the lived experience of blind people during the 19th century, from the traces of use left by readers to the accounts of blind students and professionals who lived, studied, and encountered the biases of their times. Our modern approaches to accessibility stem from the insistence of blind individuals that they be seen and heard on their own terms. Curated by Neil Weijer and Laken Brooks.
Albert H. Nahmad Panama Canal Gallery | April 21, 2023 – March 29, 2024
The Cutting Edge
As built, the Panama Canal is an extraordinary achievement that would have been impossible to create just a few decades earlier. Recent advancements and innovations in concrete, dredging, electricity, equipment, engines, dynamite, railroads, and many others, meant the difference between success and failure. Individuals and industries capitalized on these improvements and invented solutions to complete an awe-inspiring engineering project in a time frame that pushed the limits of possibility. Curated by Elizabeth Bemis.
Latin American and Caribbean Collection | August 10, 2023 – FEBRUARY 2, 2O24
Yo misma fui mi ruta
This exhibit, inspired by Julia de Burgos’ poem “Yo misma fui mi ruta,” represents various aspects that have contributed to the construction of Puerto Rican women’s image. With images of everyday life, articles about forced sterilizations, and the struggles of Puerto Rican political leaders, this exhibit seeks to create meaningful conversations about Puerto Rican women’s fight against systematic oppression. Curated by Beatriz Domínguez Alemán under the guidance of Margarita Vargas-Betancourt.
Architecture & Fine Arts Library | September 27, 2023 – MARCH 29, 2024
The Making of Historic St. Augustine
Florida Governor LeRoy Collins established The Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board in 1959. The state agency worked to restore and reconstruct historic structures in the city before its 400th anniversary in 1965. The Preservation Board was abolished in 1997, but its legacy lives on in St. Augustine’s historic downtown district. Today, the University of Florida (UF) is actively involved in continuing this legacy of historic preservation. Curated by Laura Marion and Casey Wooster.
Education Library | October 3, 2023 – February 2, 2O24
The Pura Belpré Award, A Legacy in Latinx Books
Pura Teresa Belpré, born in 1899 in Puerto Rico, made significant contributions to librarianship and children’s literature through her 40+ years of activism as a writer, scholar, and the first Black Puerto Rican librarian for the New York Public Libraries (NYPL). This exhibit highlights the Pura Belpré Award and how it continues her legacy. The award has been extremely monumental for the exposure of Latinx children’s and young adult books. Curated by Katiana Bagué.
LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COLLECTION | July 31 2023 – MARCH 29, 2024
Ediciones Vigía
Ediciones Vigía, is an independent publishing house in Matanzas, Cuba. Unlike large publishing houses, Vigía only prints a few hundred of each title. Each
handmade book is a unique work of art. Like the Cuban notion of “making do” (resolviendo), it has been said that Vigía is to make art with what is available.
Marston Science Library | July 12, 2023 – FEBRUARY 2, 2O24
What is Science Fiction?
With the world changing so rapidly and people’s imaginations growing along with it, science fiction is the perfect outlet for re-examining the past, experiencing the present through an augmented lens, and expressing future possibilities. Curated by Barrett Uhler, CJ Gott and Brad Curry.
MARSTON Science Library | April 27, 2023 – FEBRUARY 2, 2O24
Advancing with Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a technology of the future. AI is already here and embedded in our daily lives whether we realize it or not. Just 20 years ago, our exposure to AI was limited to science fiction, but now it is a reality that impacts everything we do. Where will AI take us in the future? The possibilities seem endless. Curated by Jean Bossart.
Library West | January 26, 2023 – MARCH 29, 2024
Afrofuturism: Creativity of the Black Mind
Afrofuturism has grown in popularity in recent years and is present in every sector of popular culture. The literary and artistic style reimagines the past or creates an enhanced present and future through an Afrocentric lens. Pioneered by Black authors, artists, and musicians, Afrofuturism manifests fantastical worlds that Black people have historically been excluded from. Often directed toward a Black audience, the genre establishes a sense of solidarity and inspiration. Curated by Antonette Jones.
