New Exhibition Shares The New Exhibition Shares The Incredible Holocaust Survival Incredible Holocaust Survival Story Of Izaak And Bertie Cohen Story Of Izaak And Bertie Cohen
In 1942, when the Nazis began deporting Dutch Jewish citizens to concentration camps, Izaak (“Ike”) and Bertha (“Bertie”) Cohen searched desperately for a place to hide. Fortunately, they found Nico Dane and Gien Dane-Verkouter, a non-Jewish couple who were willing to give them shelter in a room in their apartment. In this cramped space, Ike and Bertie lived mostly in silence so that not even Nico and Gien’s children would know of their presence. Inside the room’s closet, Ike constructed a concealed entrance to a small, dark recess under the staircase. Whenever Gien surreptitiously alerted them of unexpected visitors, the couple hurriedly cleared away their belongings and dove into the dark hole. Under these stressful conditions, with the constant threat of discovery, the Cohens created a puppet theater. Ike carved the puppets’ wooden heads from firewood while Bertie sewed costumes for them and painted their faces. Despite the risks, they performed clandestine puppet shows for local children, featuring traditional Dutch characters like Punch and Judy. Their performances preserved a sense of shared humanity in the face of systematic dehumanization.
After surviving the Holocaust, Ike and Bertie later bequeathed the puppets and their personal papers to their children Yvonne and Tommy Cohen. In 2024, in consultation with their family, Yvonne and Tommy donated their parents’ extraordinary collection to the Price Library of Judaica. This semester, an exhibition entitled Animating Hope: Izaak and Bertie Cohen’s Puppet Theater was mounted in the Smathers Library Gallery. Curated by Rebecca Jefferson and designed by the Libraries’ exhibition specialists, Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler and Katiana Bagué, the exhibit features nine puppets and many archival materials telling the remarkable story of the theater and the desperate circumstances under which it was created.
A special event to celebrate the exhibition and donation of the collection was held on March 29, 2026. The program featured a conversation with Yvonne and Tommy Cohen who reflected on aspects of their parents’ lives in Rotterdam before, during and after the war. They explained how, as conditions worsened under Nazi occupation, Ike and Bertie made the heartbreaking decision to send their young son Tommy to live with a relative, who could pass as non-Jewish. Yvonne and Tommy described both the physical confinement and the psychological strain that Ike and Bertie underwent for the next two and a half years while living in a small room in a stranger’s apartment. Added to worries about their own safety were concerns about their child, as well as moments of anguish when other family members were unable to escape deportation and – as they would later learn – eventually murdered.
After the conversation with the Cohens, Melissa Williams of the Jacksonville Jewish Family and Community Services spoke about the importance of Holocaust education, emphasizing how personal archives like the Cohens’ serve as powerful tools for teaching “living history.” Stacy Goldring, founder of the Searching for Identity Foundation, discussed her role in connecting the Cohens to the Price Library and securing a permanent home for the collection, and she announced her forthcoming documentary film on the Cohen story entitled Hope in Hiding. Rebecca Jefferson concluded the event by providing an overview of what visitors to the exhibition would see and experience.
An online version of the exhibition will be launched later this year, and the collection will be available for research purposes. The puppets – which will afterwards be displayed on a rotating basis in the Judaica Suite – broaden what we think of as a library collection. While written documents help us understand what happened, handmade objects like these can give us a sense of what it was like to live through those experiences.
The Judaica Library is truly honored to have been given stewardship of this important collection and its deeply personal story of survival during one of history’s darkest periods. In addition to fostering greater knowledge of the Holocaust, we hope that this first exhibition of the Cohen puppet theater also shines a light on the countless untold acts of courage and quiet resistance.
Message from the Interim Dean
Spring always brings a few variables. How bad will the allergies be this season? How far will the Gators make it in March Madness? Turns out this spring, both our allergies and the Gators had it rough. But what is never variable is the Libraries’ dedication to our students, faculty, staff and community. This semester, our employees taught 624 instructional sessions across UF’s colleges and assisted a whopping 6,175 users through 15-minute reference consultations. Multiple employees won major awards this year, recognizing their collaboration, sustained excellence and performance. I am always impressed by our people: we receive excellent feedback from students engaging with the Marston Makerspace staff and happy visitors to engaging events, thanks to the coordination of our team who host standing room only events like the Nelson Initiative on Ethics and Leadership and the annual Michael Gannon Lecture. There are exciting opportunities for the Libraries on the horizon—stay connected with us on the web and social media for the most up-to-date info so you don’t miss a beat. Have a great summer, Pat
News At A Glance
The Education Library’s Sensory-Friendly Relaxation Room is a Win for Edugators
University Archivist, Sarah Coates, Provides Virtual Walking Tour of Historic UF Campus in Honor of Inaugural UF History Day
Marston Science Library Returned to 24 Hours, Five Days/Week
UF’s Computational Literacy Librarian Joins Strategic Delegation to Strengthen Latin American Research Partnerships
Littles & Librarians
This semester, in partnership between the Libraries and The Early Childhood Collaboratory, Library West, Marston Science Library and the Education Library welcomed voluntary pre-kindergarten classrooms from the on-campus preschool for story time! Librarians read titles from the Education Library’s more than 15,000 children’s book collection, provided tours of each branch and hosted activities! We look forward to seeing the Future Gators at the Architecture & Fine Arts Library, Health Science Center Library and Smathers Library in the fall!
Farewell, Ben Walker!
Ben is leaving the George A. Smathers Libraries after more than two decades of progressive leadership experience at the University of Florida. As the Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs; Access & Technical Services, he provided strategic oversight for six departments encompassing more than 65 faculty and staff, including library technology services, digital services, resource description, shared collections, conservation and preservation and access and resource sharing. He has led major organizational restructurings, statewide collaborative storage initiatives and the development of systems and services supporting large-scale digital collections, including UF’s participation in the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC). Ben will start as Dean of Libraries for Florida International University on May 11. Buena suerte, Ben!
The Nelson Initiative on Ethics and Leadership:
40th Anniversary Of The Space Shuttle Columbia’s STS-61C Mission
The University of Florida commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia’s STS-61C mission with a panel discussion on leadership, ethics and the future of space exploration, hosted by former U.S. Senator and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at Emerson Alumni Hall.
The panel opened with welcome remarks from leaders across the University of Florida campus and NASA including Judy Russell, former dean of university libraries, Donald W. Landry, M.D., Ph.D., interim president of the University of Florida, Chuck Clemons, vice president of government relations; David P. Norton, Ph.D., vice president for research, Warren Dixon, Ph.D., interim dean, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Mark Wiese, manager of deep space logistics at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center; and Rachael Seidler, Ph.D., director, UF Astraeus Space Institute.
The event brought together astronauts from the historic 1986 mission, including Commander Robert L. “Hoot” Gibson, Pilot Charles F. Bolden Jr. and Mission Specialist Franklin Chang-Díaz, for a wide-ranging conversation connecting lessons from human space flight to ethical decision-making and public leadership. The astronauts were joined on the panel by their wives, including Gibson’s wife, Rhea Seddon, M.D., who is also a former NASA astronaut.
Nelson, who served as payload specialist on STS-61C and moderated the discussion, reflected on how far humanity’s understanding of the universe has come in the decades since the mission. “What is out there in this universe, we are just beginning to really have an understanding,” Nelson said. “The James Webb Space Telescope is looking out into the universe. It is bringing us unbelievable discoveries.”
Bolden, a former NASA administrator, echoed that sense of optimism while pointing toward future exploration. “There is great hope that we will find signs of life on Mars,” he said, emphasizing the importance of sustained scientific investment and international collaboration. Rachael Seidler, director of the Astraeus Space Institute, said the anniversary underscored UF’s growing role in space research and interdisciplinary leadership. She noted that the conversation aligned with Astraeus’ mission to connect science, ethics and public service. “Events like this remind us that space exploration is not only about discovery, but about responsibility,” Seidler said. “The decisions made in space and on Earth shape our collective future.”
The event was hosted in partnership with the Astraeus Space Institute and UF Libraries as part of the Nelson Initiative on Ethics and Leadership. Eddie Kenny, senior director of advancement for the George A. Smathers Libraries, said the initiative is designed to help emerging leaders work with complex real-world challenges.
Staff Success
Gator Tales Group Shines Light on Children’s Literature
When a children’s literature course was dropped from the university curriculum, Ph.D. students approached education librarian, Brittany Kester, for help. The graduate students were approached by undergraduates who were seeking help with children’s literature and thus began Gator Tales. Gator Tales inspire and empower pre-service teachers at the University of Florida through engagement with children’s and young adult literature. They aim to create a literacy-rich community that is committed to building pedagogical knowledge and promoting a passion for teaching reading. Additionally, Gator Tales hosts events and field trips; this semester they visited the Smathers Libraries’ Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature. The group meets once a month and typically hosts 10-15 attendees. Their meetings cover topics like gratitude and community, holidays and Read Across America. Membership in this organization is open to all enrolled students at the University of Florida. The leadership group has a goal to present Gator Tales at the National Council for Teachers of English in Fall 2026, as well as write about the experience of forming the group and the benefits to the students. Gator Tales hopes to recruit more members and have a summer book club to dive more into young adult literature.
award winners
UFLIB brings home two ARLIES film festival awards for Best Humor and Best Picture!
GATOR GIVING DAY IMPACT
Thank you to our Gator investors who helped make Gator Nation Giving Day a success campus-wide and for the Libraries. The Libraries finished 15th among Programs, Research, and Causes and maintained recent years’ performance by raising $10,204 from 124 total gifts on the annual day of giving.
recognition
The Libraries received recognition in the Employee Performance, Sustained Excellence and Team Collaboration division-level categories from the University of Florida.
Education Librarian, Rachael Elrod, Receives Distinguished Education and Behavioral Sciences Librarian Award
Development, Fundraising And Supporting The Libraries
The Libraries welcomed members of the University of Florida Foundation National Board to the Judaica Suite in Smathers Library on Thursday, Apr. 9. This experience, appropriately titled “Hidden Gems: An Intimate Look at UF’s Special Collections,” afforded over 20 board members the opportunity to hear an introduction and overview of the Libraries from Interim Dean Patrick Reakes, followed by a showcase of rare and distinctive materials from the Department of Special & Area Studies Collections. Guests were able to visit with curators and learn about the Libraries’ priceless treasures ranging from rare books and popular culture archives to items of significant cultural heritage.
News Literacy Week In The Libraries
Library West hosted a “News Years Resolutions” table where 26 visitors made resolutions to consume news in more healthy and educated ways. Examples included diversifying their news diet, news snacking and fact checking. We shared tips across social media. The @Newslitproject reshared the Libraries’ Instagram post!
What Will Your News Years Resolution Be?
- EVALUATE CONTENT AT THE ARTICLE LEVEL, NOT JUST THE PUBLICATION
Even the New York Times can make a mistake, so always use your information literacy skills with every article, no matter where it comes from. How old is the article, is the author a trained journalist, are they linking to external data and reports, did they interview any expert sources? - “TRAIN” YOUR ALGORITHM
If you prefer to consume news on social media, train your algorithm by following mainstream news sources on the national and local level. Take time out to regularly interact with posts on those accounts so more news content will end up in your feed. - FOLLOW THE NEWS LITERACY PROJECT
The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan education nonprofit that works with teachers, school districts, states and community partners like libraries and after-school clubs to ensure students in all 50 states receive news literacy instruction before they graduate from high school. Sign up for their email newsletter to keep up with media literacy tips and tricks. - DIVERSIFY YOUR NEWS DIET
Media bias charts like AdFontes Media and AllSides can be controversial, but adding a news source that is rated as factual and in the “center” to your news repertoire can never hurt. - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UF’S INSTITUTIONAL ACCESS TO THE NY TIMES AND WALL STREET JOURNAL
If you have a University of Florida Gatorlink account, register for your free subscription to the NY Times and Wall Street Journal. You can also sign up for newsletters, podcasts, and apps. - SIGN UP FOR NEWS ALERTS…
on topics you care about with services like Google Alerts. - OPEN AND READ BEFORE SHARING
If you read a headline and are immediately furious, sad or elated, that is often a sign that headline was designed to elicit that kind of reaction. Take a second open and read in its entirety to evaluate credibility before sharing. - ENGAGE IN LATERAL READING:
Run a web search to see if the issue you are reading about has been reported on elsewhere – evaluate coverage from more than one source. - FOLLOW FACT CHECKERS
Like PolitiFact or FactCheck.org – Follow on social media, sign up for their email newsletters etc. Fact checkers aren’t perfect either, but you’ll get a good sense of what is being exaggerated or manipulated in the news. - READ BEFORE YOU THINK
Turn to free resources like USAfacts.org and Journalist’s Resource or library platforms like Opposing Viewpoints and CQ Researcher to get credible, but easy to understand background information on complex and sometimes controversial topics in the news.
Did You Know?
- Periods of heightened public attention, such as wars, public health crises and presidential elections, further intensify news overload, making news avoidance more likely to occur.
- For those who may engage in news-avoidant behavior, strategies like news snacking, intermittent attention to news, and personalized news curation are effective ways to expose users to information in a digestible way.
- In the era of information overload, as we are exposed to more news than ever before, users of all ages are experiencing cognitive and emotional fatigue, triggering news avoidance behavior.
- News avoiders often hold weakly internalized norms about the perceived duty to stay informed, anticipating that news will provoke anxiety without being directly relevant to their lives, which can limit engagement not only with news but also with civic and political affairs.
- Managing information overload through breaks from devices, selective disconnection and greater control over subscriptions can further reduce fatigue and anxiety.
- Politically disinterested individuals are more likely to avoid news, making political interest one of the strongest predictors of overall news consumption. This pattern is particularly pronounced among younger adults.
- News avoiders exhibit distinct consumption habits: they tend to trust the news less, have stronger emotional reactions to news content, rely on social media as their primary news source and show greater interest in soft news compared to hard news.
- Research shows that patterns of news avoidance often occur within couples, where some rely on more news savvy partners to keep them informed and negotiate who consumes news, on which platforms, and how frequently.
- The “news finds me” perception is a phenomenon where users don’t feel they need to seek out news, because worthy news will eventually find them, whether it’s through their social media feeds or via word of mouth from a friend. However, this can also create a greater reliance on platform-based news consumption.
Make and Take Mania! Monthly Makerspace Events See A Remarkable Increase In Student Traffic
Creation of clay monsters, the sharp smell of solder, and clacking crochet needles characterize the vibrant atmosphere of the Marston Makerspace. Brittney Merryweather, Makerspace & 3D manager, has cultivated an environment that empowers students
to explore their abilities and dive into the exciting world of hands-on creation. With maker-centered lessons rooted in the theory of constructionism, this space transforms ideas into reality, enhancing students’ learning experiences through physical projects. Each month, a different Make-and-Take event invites makers of all kinds to engage in low-barrier, structured activities. Additionally, the Makerspace hosts a monthly, in-depth workshop for specialized projects such as embossing, felt pennants and even slime making. Maker education improves teaching and learning through project-based challenges, which has attracted a growing number of students since the very first event. The Makerspace has seen a remarkable 79.5% increase in visits since last academic year, continuing to empower students to engage with concepts in a hands-on manner, deepening their understanding of the world around them.
Annual Michael Gannon Lecture Series: Rick Atkinson
On March 31, Mr. Rick Atkinson gave a sweeping reflection on the scale, sacrifice, logistics, and legacy of World War II, emphasizing both its global consequences and its deeply personal human costs. Atkinson is a Pulitzer Prize
winning historian known for The Liberation Trilogy on World War II and his ongoing trilogy on the American Revolution. His WWII trilogy has been praised as “history written at the level of literature.”
He framed the lecture as a journey back into the past and highlights the global scope of the war, from Stalingrad to Madagascar. He provided vivid details of the condition of the draft members and the human strain of war, the logistical burdens of American mobilization and emphasized the massive impact to our nation’s history.
“We were honored to welcome Rick Atkinson to the University of Florida for our annual Michael Gannon Lecture,” said Eddie Kenny, senior director of advancement for the Smathers Libraries. “Mr. Atkinson was most gracious with his time—meeting with our history students and faculty, delivering a lecture truly befitting Dr. Gannon’s legacy, and engaging warmly with guests during the book signing that followed. We were thrilled to see the Grand Reading Room filled nearly to capacity, and the enthusiastic feedback continues to resonate. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supports the Gannon Lecture. Their investment allows us to bring distinguished speakers like Rick Atkinson to Gainesville and ensures this tradition continues to inspire our community.”
The annual Michael Gannon lecture commemorates the achievements of Prof. Michael Gannon, Distinguished Service Professor, remembered at the University of Florida as an outstanding teacher, scholar and advocate for fairness and academic integrity. Nationally known for his books on Florida history and the history of World War II, Gannon’s career encompassed work as a broadcaster and author, as a priest in the Catholic Church, a professor of religion, ethics, and history and a leader in promoting history to both academia and the public.
Humans of the Libraries
The Humans of the Libraries annual photo story celebrates the graduating student employees. We are so proud of their accomplishments and the energy they have brought to our branches.
Specters, Sandworms, and Zombies: Tim Lawrence’s Legacy in Special Effects Podcast
Steve Hersh and Daniela Suzarte, two curators of the Spector’s, Sandworms, and Zombies exhibit, sat down to discuss the prolific career of special effects artist, puppeteer, make-up artist and actor Tim Lawrence. His professional archive, The Tim Lawrence Papers, is housed in the Libraries’ Special Collections and includes project files, photographs, artwork, A/V, movie/television props and other files documenting Lawrence’s life and career.
The exhibit highlights his work on three iconic cultural moments. 1) Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1983): Lawrence’s early work as a makeup artist and performer, where he famously portrayed one of the lead zombies. 2) Beetlejuice (1988): His contribution to the iconic “Sandworm” and other practical effects that defined the film’s visual style. 3) Ghostbusters II (1989): Details on the creature shops and the collaborative effort required to bring “specters” to life in the
pre-CGI era.
Suzarte and Hersh discuss how Lawrence mastered the balance between terrifying and whimsical characters, a hallmark of 1980s practical effects. They explore the wondrous and meticulous art of sculpting, puppeteering and frame-by-frame animation, emphasizing how these physical objects create a different emotional connection for the audience compared to modern digital effects. The Libraries are proud to have a collection that allows students and researchers to study the technical blueprints and “behind-the-scenes” business of the film industry.
Exhibits
Curated by: Elizabeth Bemis Designed by: Katiana Bagué and Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler
Featured Exhibit: Ebb and Flow
The water of the Panama Canal continues to both give and take. Nature is not a force easily contained. There are few industrial locations in the world so impacted by the ebbs and flows of their environment. Water is of the greatest consequence to the successful operation of the Canal. This exhibition explores a small drop of the incredible history of the water that flows through the Panama Canal. March 25, 2026 – March 15, 2027 Albert H. Nahmad Panama Canal Gallery, Smathers Library
Current Exhibits:
- Animating Hope: Izaak and Bertie Cohen’s Puppet Theater through May 8, 2026 Smathers Library Gallery
- Specters, Sandworms, and Zombies: Tim Lawrence’s Legacy in Special Effects through June 5, 2026 Smathers Library Lobby
- The Not So Scary Side of Stephen King through Aug. 7, 2026 Library West
- The Many Means to Cuba: Counterrevolutionary Cuban Organizations through Aug. 7, 2026 Latin American & Caribbean Collections
Upcoming Exhibits:
- Jaws of Life: Why Sharks Matter May 1 – Aug. 14, 2026 Marston Science Library
- Dragons in the Library May 26 – Aug. 14, 2026 Smathers Library Gallery
- Louise Jefferson Aug. 24 – Dec. 15, 2026 Smathers Library Gallery
Would You Make it to Class?
Test your knowledge just like the passengers of Class Cab, and see if you would make it to class!
- William A. Edwards, the architect who designed Smathers Library and other educational buildings, used which design style?
- How many library branches are in Smathers Cinematic Universe?
- In 1963, the Libraries reached one million volumes. What was the millionth volume?
Want to know the answers?
Check out Class Cab on YouTube!
Protect Your Local Libraries
This semester, the Libraries rolled out the Protect Your Libraries campaign to create awareness around preserving library materials and spaces with National Park themed graphics and a mukbang social media series. Want to see the full series? Check out UFLIB on Instagram @UFLIB.