Libraries exhibit policy

This policy sets requirements for internal and external use of Libraries spaces for exhibits.

Policy statement

The University Libraries encourages the presentation of exhibits to enlighten and entertain visitors to Libraries’ spaces. Exhibits support the mission of the Libraries and the University of Minnesota: teaching, education, and outreach. 

The Libraries does not

  • develop or host exhibits with the sole or principal purpose of promoting agendas of organizations outside the Libraries,
  • endorse or advocate for specific political, commercial, philosophical, or religious viewpoints, or
  • display unsolicited exhibits. 

Exhibits within the Libraries are managed by the Libraries and need a Libraries staff member as the primary curator. Co-curating and collaboration within the Libraries’ various collections and with campus departments, the community, and other institutions is encouraged. A completed and submitted exhibit proposal form is required.

All Libraries exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. Exhibits are open during the same hours as the building in which they are housed, unless otherwise specified and with occasional exceptions for maintenance requiring the opening of the exhibit cases.

Exhibits must meet minimum Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and the Minnesota Accessibility Code (see MN Accessibility Code Summary - interior circulation and signage).

Traveling exhibitions

The Libraries may elect to use exhibit materials prepared by other organizations not affiliated with the University, such as traveling exhibitions. It may also elect to create traveling exhibitions, which may be loaned to other institutions partially or in their entirety. The intellectual property and content of such exhibitions cannot be modified. The Libraries may also serve as the archive for traveling exhibitions produced in-house. Items included in exhibits are primarily from the Libraries’ collections and supplemented, as appropriate, with materials from other sources. 

Online exhibits

The Libraries creates and hosts online exhibits, which complement physical exhibitions and highlight the collections. Online exhibitions are freely available year round. Online exhibits must adhere to the University’s digital accessibility standards.

Back to top

Libraries exhibit spaces

Exhibits in all Libraries locations require the submittal of an exhibit proposal form, which will route to the policy contacts and decision-makers for each type of exhibit space. 

Multiple exhibits seeking the same space during the same time-frame will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis, taking into consideration the timeliness associated with an event/conference.

Back to top

Programmatically specific Libraries exhibit spaces

Archives and Special Collections exhibit spaces

The Archives and Special Collections (ASC) department and Exhibits Coordinator/Designer are responsible for creating and scheduling exhibits in Andersen Library, including these exhibit spaces

  • James Ford Bell Library Gallery/Wallin Center
  • First Floor Gallery
  • Second Floor Atrium, and
  • Third Floor Atrium.

The dates/times of openings for special events will be planned by the curator and Events Committee.

Exhibit proposals should be submitted to the Exhibits Coordinator/Designer.

Other programmatically specific Libraries exhibit spaces and departmental display cases

Exhibits at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library in Rapson Hall, the Mathematics Library in Vincent Hall, the Music Library in Ferguson Hall, the Natural Resources Library in Hodson Hall, and the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine in the Phillips-Wangensteen building will be managed by the curators and librarians at these locations. 

Questions about the use of exhibit spaces at these locations can be submitted to the director of the relevant department/service area. Questions about departmental display cases at any location can be directed to the departments responsible for each display case.  

Back to top