Collaborating with the Alachua County Headquarters Library Makerspace and the Marston Makerspace started with a tour. In 2025, Brittney Merryweather, Makerspace and 3D Manager, met a Makerspace Coordinator,Greta Pallak, at the Headquarters Makerspace where Greta showed off the public library’s offerings, including a fun felt activity…
The Libraries were well represented at the 2026 University of Florida Superior Accomplishment Awards. The Superior Accomplishment Award program recognizes faculty and staff members who contribute outstanding and meritorious service, efficiency and/or economy, or have created an impact on the quality of life provided to students and employees. This…
By: Rae Riiska, UF Libraries Communications Assistant Smathers Centennial Design Diaries 100 Years of Libraries at the University of Florida A step-by-step guide through the creation of the Smathers visual…
On Thursday, August 21, the Libraries invited the University of Florida Gainesville campus to the official unveiling of “Focused Attention,” the nine-foot bronze alligator sculpture created by artist, David Price. More than one hundred students, faculty and staff trekked to the Plaza of the Americas to give the gator a…
Focused Attention is finally home. In 2016, the A. H. Burnett Foundation donated a 430-pound bronze alligator sculpture to the UF Libraries. Created by Florida artist David Price, the bull gator is nine feet long and made of clay. For over nine years, the work, titled “Focused Attention,” lingered on the third floor of Library West,…
On July 31, the “Resolution Celebrating the George A. Smathers Libraries Centennial” was signed by the UF Student Government Senate. This bill details library student resources, branch locations and special collections. Senator Pedro (Reese) Rubio learned about the Smathers Centennial from Instagram and proceeded to write bill that helps…
Patrick Reakes will serve as interim dean of the George A. Smathers Libraries, effective July 21. Judy Russell, the first Dean of University Libraries, stepped down after 18 years in the role. “Judy left a really strong tradition of having high-quality Libraries for UF, and I want to make…
LibraryPress@UF is pleased to announce the launch of SPACE, a multidisciplinary, open-access journal committed to advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the fields of space science, technology, aerospace engineering, space tourism, material engineering, environmental studies, and associated space policy frameworks. The journal encourages a broad range of submissions, including original research, review articles, case studies, and reports on practical…
Sarah Tew is a familiar face with a new job at Smathers Libraries. Working as Project Coordinator for the US Caribbean & Florida Digital Newspaper Project since 2022, she will move into her new role as Curator of the Harold and Mary Jean Hanson Rare Book Collection in May. She…
By Melissa Jerome The University of Florida (UF) George A. Smathers Libraries house an extensive collection of newspapers from around the world, with a strong emphasis on Florida and Caribbean-based publications. These newspapers serve as rich historical records, offering valuable insights into past events, cultural shifts, and societal trends. Their…
