Exhibitions Committee

Charge

The Library Exhibitions Committee supports exhibits that highlight the University Library’s rich and vast collections, and especially encourages exhibits that look beyond the walls of the Library and attempt to incorporate nationally or locally recognized themes and events, campus programs, or emerging research. The Committee maintains a wide variety of preservation-friendly supplies and offers modest funding assistance to exhibitors throughout the University Library system. The committee also manages exhibitions held in the designated Main Library display cases. At the start of each academic year, the committee solicits exhibitions for these display areas from the Library and campus community and maintains a schedule of these exhibitions, including the titles, dates of displays, and names of exhibitors, which are publicized through the Office of Library Advancement.

Typically, there is a two consecutive term limit.

Additional Committee Information

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

A public facing page for promoting Library exhibitions; displays up to four exhibits from the exhibitions calendar.

Graduate Student Exhibit Contest

Each year, the Library Exhibitions Committee sponsors a competition open to graduate students employed by the University Library. Proposals for the 2024 Graduate Student Contest are due January 29, 2024 by 11:59pm. The winning exhibition appears in the Library Gallery (formally known as the Marshall Gallery) in April, and the winning exhibitor/team receives a $200 cash prize.

• Full contest rules
• Entry submission form
• 2023 Winning Exhibition:
  Work Hard, Play Harder: Video Game Collections @ the University Library curated by Meli Taylor

Call for Exhibitions

The Library Exhibits Committee is seeking exhibits for the Main North-South Corridor, Library Gallery (formally known as the Marshall Gallery) and the Second Floor Exhibit Cases. All topics are welcome. Preferable are those that either highlight the University Library’s rich and vast collections or that look beyond the walls of the Library and attempt to incorporate nationally or locally recognized themes and events, campus programs, or emerging research. All exhibit topics should be presented in a thoughtful and inclusive way. Questions?  Contact the Library Exhibits Committee at  excom@library.illinois.edu.

• Check exhibit space availability
• Exhibit Proposal Form.

Funding for Exhibitions

Funding in support of library exhibits is available through the Dr. C. Barber Mueller Display Case Fund. Color and large-scale printing, display equipment, and exhibition supplies may be purchased by the Exhibitions Committee on behalf of exhibit curators. To find out more about funding for exhibitions, or to inquire about a reimbursement, please contact the Exhibitions Committee.

Read this  Friendscript article  about Dr. C. Barber Mueller’s generous donation and his desire to honor the five University of Illinois zoology and chemistry professors who had a profound influence on his career during his undergraduate studies on our campus.

Information for Exhibitors

• Plan an Exhibit (Exhibitions 101 Workshop info)
• Designing an Exhibit
• Installation Procedures
• Care and Handling
• Supplies & Printing
• Previous Exhibits
• Exhibit Locations & Access 
• Check exhibit space availability
• Exhibit Proposal Form.