ARLIS/NA’s Library Exhibitions Review (LER) is seeking recommendations for library and archive exhibitions held between 2026 and 2027. LER is an open-access platform dedicated to documenting and archiving physical and digital exhibitions.

Know of an outstanding library exhibition from 2026? Submit the exhibition title, location, description, and URL via the Exhibition Suggestion Form by October 30, 2026. You can also volunteer on the form to review a physical exhibition you visited (non-affiliated reviewers only).

📅 Deadline: October 30, 2026 🔗 Submit your recommendations today!

Thank you to our authors and to those who submitted exhibitions for review. Library Exhibitions Review 2026 (Issue 4) can be accessed on our website to read and share.

We look forward to collaborating on the next issue and will be placing calls for exhibition submissions and reviewers. Meanwhile, feedback and inquiries can be sent to us at arlisnaler@gmail.com

Library Exhibitions Review Co-Editors:

Emily Eckstrand, University of Chicago

Ashley Huot, University of Manitoba

Meg Wang, Southern Methodist University 

Library Exhibitions Review is published annually by the ARLIS/NA. Our inaugural issue was published in Spring 2023. We are in the process of putting together our fourth issue!

We have collected a list of exhibitions available for review! Please express your interest in reviewing an exhibition for us by filling out our form by December 12, 2025. You do not need to be a member of ARLIS to contribute!

Timeline

• Call for Reviewers closes December 12, 2025
• Reviewers will be notified in mid-late December 2025
• Initial drafts and images will be due February 6, 2026
• Publication date mid-March 2026

Available Exhibitions for Review

Thanks to everyone that submitted suggestions. There are 24 physical exhibitions and 3 online exhibitions available for selection. Please note that exhibitions with both physical and online components are listed separately. Reviews of physical exhibitions must be conducted in person.

For physical exhibitions that have already concluded, we strongly encourage the curatorial team to invite visitors they have interacted with to complete this form and write a review. Please ensure that reviewers are not members of the curatorial team or otherwise affiliated with the exhibition.

Physical Exhibitions

1. (Physical) How to Be a Guerrilla Girl (Getty Research Institute, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles CA 90049) https://www.getty.edu/exhibitions/how-to-be-a-guerrilla-girl/
2. (Physical) The Legacy of Sofia Ímber: Pioneering Journalist, Museum Founder and Director  (Kislak Center, University of Miami Libraries, 1300 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL, 33146) https://www.library.miami.edu/exhibitions/sofia-imber.html
3. (Physical) Voices of Change: Student Advocacy and Action from the Archives (James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Avenue, Richmond, VA 23284) https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/news/2025-news/new-archival-exhibit-focuses-on-student-advocacy-through-action-art-and-publishing.html
4. (Physical) Niyū Yūrk: Middle Eastern and North African Lives in the City (476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018) https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/niyu-yurk
5. (Physical) Resistance and Resilience: The Weavers of Oaxaca (Fashion Institute of Technology, 227 West 27th Street, New York City, NY 10001) https://events.fitnyc.edu/event/exhibition-resistance-and-resilience-the-weavers-of-oaxaca-opens/
6. (Physical) Syncopated Stages: Black Disruptions to the Great White Way (40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023) https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/syncopated-stages-black-disruptions-great-white-way
7. (Physical) Radioactive: A Selection of Nuclear Ephemera and Records from John O’Brian’s Atomic Collection (380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Canada, Library and Archives) https://www.gallery.ca/magazine/exhibitions/the-nuclear-age-and-the-obrian-collection
8. (Physical) Joseph Conrad’s Polish-Ukrainian “Graveyard” Memory, Mourning, and Anti-Colonial Resistance in his 19th-Century Family Photo Album (Michael and Karen Stone Family Gallery, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Special Collections Library, 411 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC 27708) https://exhibits.library.duke.edu/exhibits/show/josephconrad/intro
9. (Physical) Behind the Curve: Rainbows and the Science and Culture of Color (Hatcher Gallery Exhibit Room, Hatcher Library North, First Floor, Room 100J. 913 S University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109) https://www.lib.umich.edu/visit-and-study/events-and-exhibits/today-and-upcoming/behind-curve-rainbows-and-science-and
10. (Physical) Rise Up! Sights, sounds and spaces of protest at the Music, Art & Architecture Library (UBC Music, Art & Architecture Library, in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC), 1961 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1) https://about.library.ubc.ca/2025/04/07/rise-up-sights-sounds-and-spaces-of-protest-at-the-music-art-architecture-library/
11. (Physical) Hidden in Plain Sight: Exploring Louisiana’s Disappearing Prairie (Edith Garland Dupre Library 400 E. St. Mary Blvd. University of Louisiana at Lafayette 70503) https://ourbio.org/hidden-in-plain-sight-an-exhibit-about-louisianas-great-prairie/
12. (Physical) Arsenic and Old Ink: Poisonous Dyes in Victorian Law Books (Underwood Law Library, Southern Methodist University, 6550 Hillcrest Avenue, Dallas, TX 75205)
13. (Physical) Nicky Zann: A Life in Art (Olin Library, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130) https://library.washu.edu/exhibitions/zann-life-art/
14. (Physical) The Surprising Story of Furcy Madeleine (Shannon Library (Third floor south corridor), 160 McCormick Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22904) https://library.virginia.edu/news/2025/surprising-story-furcy-madeleine-new-exhibition-shannon-library-explores-contradictions
15. (Physical) Educator, Advocate, Scholar, Leader: Selections from the Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. papers (Caspersen Room, 4th floor, Langdell Hall 1545 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 ) https://hls.harvard.edu/amicus-libris/new-exhibit-educator-advocate-scholar-leader-showcases-the-charles-j-ogletree-jr-papers/
16. (Physical) Healing From What We Can / Guérir de ce qu’on peut (2, rue Sainte-Catherine est, Montréal, Québec, Canada)
17. (Physical) Flashpoint! Protest Photography in Print, 1950–Present (Hirsch Library Reading Room, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 5601 Main St, Houston, TX 77005 ) https://www.mfah.org/learn/hirsch-library/exhibitions
18. (Physical) Library Adorned: Jewelry Cuff Show (Pratt Institute Libraries, 200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218)
19. (Physical) Team Spirit: The sporting days of Ida “Wisey” Bly (Jewish Public Library, 5151 Chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Canada) https://jpl-curates.org/archives/ida-bly
20. (Physical) Retail Retrospective (TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4W 2 GB, Canada) https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/exhibits/retail-retrospective.jsp
21. (Physical) Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston (Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116) https://guides.bloombergconnects.org/en-US/guide/bostonPublicLibrary/exhibition/84c925a6-7061-49a2-80b4-5a81b7d8cc44
22. (Physical) SRJC Theatre Arts Costumes of Hollywood Exhibit (Herold Mahoney Library, SRJC Petaluma, 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma, CA 94954) https://libraries.santarosa.edu/mahoney_gallery
23. (Physical) I AM THE SPACE WHERE I AM With John Arnone (Hamon Arts Library, Southern Methodist University, 6100 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, TX 75205) https://hamonarts.omeka.net/exhibits/show/iamthespacewhereiam/iamthespacewhereiam
24. (Physical) Children Draw War, Not Flowers (Tufts University,  Tisch Library, Medford, MA 02155) https://events.tufts.edu/?wwpath=www.theknot.com%2Fus%2Feddy-lee-and-heeju-son-oct-2025&trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D192292111 

Online Exhibitions

1. (Online) Joseph Conrad’s Polish-Ukrainian “Graveyard” Memory, Mourning, and Anti-Colonial Resistance in his 19th-Century Family Photo Album (https://exhibits.library.duke.edu/exhibits/show/josephconrad/intro)
2. (Online) Team Spirit: The sporting days of Ida “Wisey” Bly (https://jpl-curates.org/archives/ida-bly)
3. (Online) Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston (https://guides.bloombergconnects.org/en-US/guide/bostonPublicLibrary/exhibition/84c925a6-7061-49a2-80b4-5a81b7d8cc44) 

Co-Editors:

Emily Eckstrand

Ashley Huot

Meg Wang
—

Due to the nature of LER publishing timelines, some physical exhibitions may have concluded by the time our upcoming Call for Reviewers is released in November.

We encourage you to take a moment now—before the end of October—to reflect on any noteworthy physical exhibitions you may have come across in a library corner, whether in the spring, summer, or fall of 2025. If one stands out, consider submitting an exhibition suggestion now—and prepare to take it a step further by volunteering to write a review in November (You’re welcome to make a note on the Exhibition Suggestion form, under the question: More about the physical exhibition you are suggesting. Please also specify that you are not affiliated with the exhibition you wish to review).

Library exhibitions play a vital role in promoting library materials and showcasing the important work librarians do—yet they are often underrepresented and underdocumented.

This is a valuable opportunity to contribute to Library Exhibitions Review, an open and accessible virtual platform dedicated to preserving and archiving library exhibitions in both physical and digital formats.

Help us expand the visibility and coverage of physical exhibitions—your documentation and insights matter.

***

Library Exhibitions Review is published annually by the ARLIS/NA Exhibitions Special Interest Group. Our inaugural issue was published in Spring 2023. We are in the process of putting together our fourth issue!

Recognizing that exhibitions and displays are integral to library services, and building on the publication of its ARLIS/NA Best Practices for Library Exhibitions in 2021, ARLIS/NA launched the Library Exhibitions Review (LER) to promote these best practices and enhance the visibility of library exhibitions.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for recommendations of library or archive exhibitions held between 2025-2026 to be reviewed by our reviewers. Exhibitions can be physical or virtual format, but must be open to the public.

• Full title of the exhibition
• Exhibition location (online or physical location)
• A brief description about the exhibition
• URL (if applicable)Example exhibitions can include a display case or a gallery installation, a loan/traveling exhibit, a digital exhibit featuring library-owned content, or a digital exhibit hosted by the library. There is no restriction on types of libraries or archives that may participate.

Please submit exhibition recommendations by October 31 2025 through our Exhibition Suggestion Form

Co-Editors:

Emily Eckstrand

Ashley Huot

Meg Wang

Library Exhibitions Review is published annually by the ARLIS/NA Exhibitions Special Interest Group. Our inaugural issue was published in Spring 2023. We are in the process of putting together our fourth issue!

Recognizing that exhibitions and displays are integral to library services, and building on the publication of its ARLIS/NA Best Practices for Library Exhibitions in 2021, ARLIS/NA launched the Library Exhibitions Review (LER) to promote these best practices and enhance the visibility of library exhibitions.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for recommendations of library or archive exhibitions held between 2025-2026 to be reviewed by our reviewers. Exhibitions can be physical or virtual format, but must be open to the public.

• Full title of the exhibition
• Exhibition location (online or physical location)
• A brief description about the exhibition
• URL (if applicable)Example exhibitions can include a display case or a gallery installation, a loan/traveling exhibit, a digital exhibit featuring library-owned content, or a digital exhibit hosted by the library. There is no restriction on types of libraries or archives that may participate.

Please submit exhibition recommendations by October 31 2025 through our Exhibition Suggestion Form

Co-Editors:

Emily Eckstrand

Ashley Huot

Meg Wang

Library Exhibitions Review is published annually by the ARLIS/NA. Our inaugural issue was published in Spring 2023. We are in the process of putting together our third issue!

Recognizing that exhibitions and displays are integral to library services, and building on the publication of its ARLIS/NA Best Practices for Library Exhibitions in 2021, ARLIS/NA launched the Library Exhibitions Review (LER) to promote these best practices and enhance the visibility of library exhibitions.

We have collected a list of exhibitions available for review! Please express your interest in reviewing an exhibition for us by filling out our form by December 13, 2024. You do not need to be a member of ARLIS to contribute!

Timeline

• Call for Reviewers closes December 13, 2024
• Reviewers will be notified in mid-late December 2024
• Initial drafts and images will be due February 7, 2025
• Publication date March 17, 2025

Available Exhibitions for Review

Thanks to everyone that submitted suggestions. Due to the LER publishing timeframe, some of exhibition suggestions are excluded from the List. Note that if an exhibition is both physical and online, they are listed separately. 

Online Exhibitions

Inventing Shakespeare: Text, Technology, and the Four Folios. A 360 Virtual Tour in link., was physically displayed (March 6, 2023 – June 2, 2024) at Hunt Library, Carnegie Mellon University.

Here to Stay: Celebrating 40 Years at the Architecture Archives. A 360 Virtual Tour in link. Also an ongoing physical exhibition at Hunt LIbrary, 4th Floor Exhibit Space, Carnegie Mellon University, 4909 Frew St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Banned: Censorship and the Freedom to Read. Online exhibition in link. A selection of items is on display in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New Yrok Public Library, 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

Igor Savchenko and Contemporary Belarusian Photography: Reimagining the Visual. Online exhibition in link. Princeton University Library.

Ukrainian Art in Times of War: 2014-  Online exhibition in link. Princeton University Library.

Joseph Conrad’s Polish-Ukrainian “Graveyard”: Memory, Mourning, and Anti-Colonial Resistance in his 19th-Century Family Photo Album. Online exhibition in link. Duke University Libraries       

Physical Exhibitions

Reviews of physical exhibitions must be done in person. 

Line & Thread: Prints and Textiles from the 1600s to the Present. Description in link. Physical exhibition (Through January 12, 2025) at Rayner Special Collections Wing, 3rd floor of Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library, 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

Byron: A Life in Motion. Description in link. Physical exhibition (Through January 12, 2025) at Print Gallery, 3rd floor of Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library, 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

Becoming Bohemia: Greenwich Village 1912-1923. Description in link. Physical exhibition (Through February 1, 2025) at Wachenheim and Ispahani-Bartos Galleries, 1st floor of Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 1st Floor, New York Public Library, 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures. Description in link. Physical exhibition (Permanent) at Gottesman Hall, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library, 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

The Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S. Description in link. Physical exhibition (Through March 1, 2025) at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Shelby Cullom Davis Museum, Donald and Mary Oenslager Gallery, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza (entrance at 111 Amsterdam between 64th and 65th), New York, NY, 10023

Disegno: Selections from the R & Company Archives Collection. Description in link. Physical exhibition (Through December 13, 2024) at Charles P. Stevenson Library, Bard College, 1 Library Road, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504

Draw Me Ishmael: The Book Arts of Moby Dick. Description in link. Physical exhibition (June 1, 2024 to January 4, 2026, Tickets required) at Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970

The Movement of Books. Description in link. Physical exhibition (August 30 to December 13, 2024) at Goldstein Gallery, 6th Floor, Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Here to Stay: Celebrating 40 Years at the Architecture Archives. Description in link. Physical exhibition (ongoing) at Hunt LIbrary, 4th Floor Exhibit Space, Carnegie Mellon University, 4909 Frew St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213  

Joseph Conrad’s Polish-Ukrainian “Graveyard”: Memory, Mourning, and Anti-Colonial Resistance in his 19th-Century Family Photo Album. Description in link. Physical exhibition (October 8, 2024 – April 5, 2025) at Michael and Karen Stone Family Gallery, Rubenstein Library, Duke University, 411 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC 27708          

Co-Editors:

Emily Eckstrand

Ashley Huot

Meg Wang

Library Exhibitions Review is published annually by the ARLIS/NA Exhibitions Special Interest Group. Our inaugural issue was published in Spring 2023. We are in the process of putting together our third issue!

Recognizing that exhibitions and displays are integral to library services, and building on the publication of its ARLIS/NA Best Practices for Library Exhibitions in 2021, ARLIS/NA launched the Library Exhibitions Review (LER) to promote these best practices and enhance the visibility of library exhibitions.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for recommendations of library or archive exhibitions held between 2024-2025 to be reviewed by our reviewers. Exhibitions can be physical or virtual format, but must be open to the public.

• Full title of the exhibition
• Exhibition location (online or physical location)
• A brief description about the exhibition
• URL (if applicable)Example exhibitions can include a display case or a gallery installation, a loan/traveling exhibit, a digital exhibit featuring library-owned content, or a digital exhibit hosted by the library. There is no restriction on types of libraries or archives that may participate.

Please submit exhibition recommendations by October 31 through our Exhibition Suggestion Form

Co-Editors:

Emily Eckstrand

Ashley Huot

Meg Wang

Library Exhibitions Review is published annually by the ARLIS/NA Exhibitions Special Interest Group. Our inaugural issue was published in Spring 2023. We are in the process of putting together our second issue!

Recognizing that exhibitions and displays are integral to library services, and building on the publication of its ARLIS/NA Best Practices for Library Exhibitions in 2021, ARLIS/NA launched the Library Exhibitions Review (LER) to promote these best practices and enhance the visibility of library exhibitions.

We have collected a list of exhibitions available for review! Please express your interest in reviewing an exhibition for us by filling out our form or by contacting us at arlisnaler@gmail.com by December 1, 2023. You do not need to be a member of ARLIS to contribute!

Please encourage people to visit physical exhibitions or people who already visited the physical exhibition to write a review. 

Timeline

• Call for reviewers closes December 1, 2023
• Reviewers will be notified in mid-late December 2023
• Initial drafts will be due February 2, 2024
• Publication date March 15, 2024

Available exhibitions are listed below.

Online/Physical Exhibitions

Teaching with Art: The History of the Visual Resources Collection at Yale. Online exhibition in link, physical exhibition at Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library, Yale University, 180 York Street New Haven, CT 06511

Let None Be Excluded: The Origins of Equal School Rights in Salem. Online exhibition in title link, physical exhibition at Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970

Reverberating Feminisms: Chronologies of Feminist Art Movements at CalArts. Online exhibition in link, physical exhibition at California Institute of the Arts, CalArts Library, 24700 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, CA

Physical Exhibitions only

Unseen Labor: Social Justice in Cataloging. Exhibition catalog in link. Traveling exhibition hosted at The Special Collections Research Center, Fresno State University, from August 28, 2023 to May 17, 2024. Fresno State Library 5200 N. Barton Ave., M/S UL34 Fresno, CA 93740

The Undead Archive: 100 Years of Photographing Ghosts. Description in link, co-presented by The University of Winnipeg’s Gallery 1C03, University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections, and the School of Art Gallery, University of Manitoba.

Words Matter! The Inclusive Cataloging Movement Takes Flight. Description in link. Physical exhibition at The Special Collections Research Center, Fresno State University, Fresno State Library 5200 N. Barton Ave., M/S UL34 Fresno, CA 93740

Abject Object: Feminism, Art & The Academy. Description in link. Physical exhibition at The Ohio State University, Thompson Library Gallery, Columbus, OH

On Various Subjects: 250 Years of Phillis Wheatley. Description in link. Physical exhibition at Special Collections Library, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, WI

Domesticated Pulp: Archie Publications and the Comics Code. Description in link. Olin Library, Washington University in St. Louis., MO

Responding to Climate Change Through Art and Design. Exhibition catalog in link. Physical exhibition at Emily Carr University of Art and Design Library, Vancouver BC. Please note this exhibition has already closed.

At the Limits of the Book. Description in link. Physical exhibition at Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

In Their Own Voices: Black Women’s Lives from the Archives. Description in link. Physical exhibition at Lia and William Poorvu Gallery, Schlesinger Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

Storied Leaves. Description in link. Physical exhibition at the Cargill Gallery, located on the second floor of Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN.

Exhibition Suggestions

We are looking for more recommendations of library or archive exhibitions! Exhibitions can be physical or virtual format, but must be open to the public. If the exhibition is a physical one, we may ask for additional documentation (photographs, drawings, etc.) to increase our reviewers’ access to the exhibition.

Suggestions can be sent to us at arlisnaler@gmail.com for consideration in the 2025 issue of Library Exhibitions Review.

Co-Editors:

Freyja Catton, Wordeater Consulting

Emily Eckstrand, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ashley Huot, University of Manitoba

Alex Regan, University of California Santa Barbara

Meg Wang, Mississippi State University

We are looking for:

· Exhibitions to review for the Library Exhibitions Review (due Sept 29)

· Panelists and Moderator for the 2024 Conference (due Aug 31)

Call for Exhibitions for Library Exhibitions Review

Library Exhibitions Review is published annually by the ARLIS/NA Exhibitions Special Interest Group. Our inaugural issue was published in Spring 2023. We are in the process of putting together our second issue!

Recognizing that exhibitions and displays are integral to library services, and building on the publication of its ARLIS/NA Best Practices for Library Exhibitions in 2021, ARLIS/NA launched the Library Exhibitions Review (LER) to promote these best practices and enhance the visibility of library exhibitions.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for recommendations of library or archive exhibitions held between 2022-2024 to be reviewed by our reviewers. Exhibitions can be physical or virtual format, but must be open to the public.

• Full title of the exhibition
• Exhibition location (online or physical location)
• A brief description about the exhibition
• URL (if applicable)
  
  Example exhibitions can include a display case or a gallery installation, a loan/traveling exhibit, a digital exhibit featuring library-owned content, or a digital exhibit hosted by the library. There is no restriction on types of libraries or archives that may participate.

Please submit exhibition recommendations by September 29, 2023 to arlisnaler@gmail.com.

Co-Editors:

Freyja Catton, Wordeater Consulting

Ashley Huot, University of Manitoba

Alex Regan, University of California Santa Barbara

Meg Wang, Mississippi State University

Call for Panelists for ARLIS/NA Conference 2024

The Exhibitions SIG is putting together a panel on the topic of exhibition programming at the 2024 Conference.

What experiences or challenges have you had with exhibitions programming? What resources are needed to support this programming? Are there differences in exhibitions programming and other kinds of programming? What is the role of the library in an institution’s exhibition programming? So many questions. 👀

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for panelists! Panelists may wish to give a brief presentation and/or to participate in a roundtable-style Q&A Session at the ARLIS/NA 2024 Conference in Pittsburgh. Anyone interested is welcome to apply.

We would also welcome a panel moderator. Currently the SIG Coordinator’s in-person attendance is not guaranteed.

Please submit your expression of interest to us by August 31, 2023 to arlisnaler@gmail.com.

Exhibitions SIG Coordinator:
Freyja Catton, Wordeater Consulting

This site is officially launched in Fall 2022, and we are excited to present the resources and opportunities relating to library exhibitions.