News from the Libraries
See all upcoming Libraries events — including our featured events, workshops, and exhibits — on the UMN Twin Cities Events Calendar.
Explore the newly relaunched BTAA Geoportal
The Geoportal provides access to well over 100,000 downloadable GIS datasets across hundreds of government agencies as well as scanned historical maps from university library collections.
A busy summer with the University Libraries Creation and Innovation Hubs!
The Libraries Creation and Innovation Hubs had a busy summer, welcoming future students into our spaces, promoting our resources to internal and external partners, and preparing for the fall semester. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at our work these past months!
New workshop improves AI literacy for K-12 educators
On June 11, 2026, the University of Minnesota Libraries, along with partners from the AI Hub and Academic Technology Support Services, hosted a full-day workshop titled “AI Literacy for K-12 Educators” at Walter Library.
Behind the legend
Daryl Richard Lawrence, 2026-27 Chair of the Library Senate Committee, shares more about his in-progress biography on American actress Myrna Loy and how he has utilized UMN Libraries resources in his research process.
A year of libraries and Loy
Daryl Richard Lawrence, 2026-27 Chair of the Senate Library Committee, kicks off a blog series sharing his experiences with UMN Libraries as well as his favorite resources, collections, and spaces.
Search to Synthesis: Library Research Workshops for Graduate Students – Fall 2026
The UMN LIbraries' Search to Synthesis: Library Research Workshops for Graduate Students” series continues for Fall 2026. There are 21 different workshops covering citation tools, data, evidence synthesis, publishing journal articles and much more with 6 new ones: an orientation session for international graduate students, overview of impact factors and h-indexes, archival research, ways to "future-proof" your disserations, and two workshops on literature reviews. See "Library research workshops for graduate students" for full details and registration information.
“The Friday Finish” is back for Fall semester! Make the grade at Walter Library!
Need to get caught up from the busy week? Need motivation to turn your Friday afternoon into a key part of your homework routine? Want to make the sunday scaries be less scary? Come to Walter Library for a relaxed yet productive study time at the Friday Finish.
PAWS study break is back at Wilson Library for fall semester
PAWS (Pet Away Worry & Stress) is back at Wilson Library for the ultimate west bank study break! Whether you need a quick dopamine boost between lectures or just want to cuddle a furry (or feathered) friend, drop in anytime to hang out with Boynton’s legendary registered therapy team. Yes, we actually have dogs, cats, and chicken!
Game Night & Walter Library Open House
Start the semester right and get to know Walter Library — one of the ultimate OG study spots (fun fact: it’s literally over 100 years old) on campus! Bring your U Card to swipe in!
Unwind & Recharge: Free Friday Mat Pilates at Wilson Library!
All are welcome to join the mat Pilates Study Break in the studio on the first floor of Wilson Library (west bank) on Friday's from 1-1:45pm.
Cataloging the tangled web of serialized novels
We all know the anticipation of waiting for the next episode of our favorite show to be aired. Or the next book in our favorite series to be published. This phenomenon is nothing new, and at the University of Minnesota Libraries (UMN Libraries), the Archives and Special Collections’ Cataloging Unit is making sure that the next story is at your fingertips.
Expanding ecology with a free textbook and an international friendship
Professor Clarence Lehman’s open access ecology textbook, published by UMN Libraries Publishing, has sparked an international friendship of scholarly proportions. Since publication, it’s been viewed over 20,000 times and downloaded over 15,000 times. One of those readers was 24-year-old Solomon Freeman from Assin Tabil, Ghana. He’s a master’s student at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), studying to become an ecologist.