Library News and Events

Celebrate National Library Week with Phillips Library!

Join us for exciting events and activities honoring the impact of libraries. Meet our amazing staff, explore our resources, and discover all we have to offer. Plus, enjoy free snacks, awesome prizes, and fun giveaways!

Social Media Challenge | April 6 – 12

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and leave a comment under our "What's Your Favorite Library Memory" post for a chance to win an electronic gift card! All students, staff, and faculty are welcome.

How to enter:

1. Follow us on Instagram and/or Facebook

2. Leave a comment about your favorite library memory!

    

Library Resource Fair: Discover, Connect, Caffeinate! 

Tuesday, April 8 | 9:30 - 11:30 AM

Join us in the Library Lobby for a morning of discovery, delicious treats, and delightful connections!

Grab a free cup of coffee and a baked cookie while you explore the many incredible resources and services the library has to offer. Meet our friendly librarians—some in person, others via their creative signs featuring their roles and fun facts!

Whether you’re looking for research help, hidden study gems, or just want to put a face to the library’s magic, this is your chance to connect, learn, and maybe even leave with a new favorite resource!

No RSVP needed—just stop by, say hello, and enjoy some library love!

Library Appreciation Day | Wednesday, April 9 | All Day
 

We’re celebrating YOU—our amazing students, faculty, and staff! Stop by the Library Lobby (in front of the Computer Lab) anytime throughout the day to grab stickers, pens, and snacks.

✨ Bonus: Enter your name if for or a chance to win a gift basket! 

While you're here, learn more about the friendly faces behind the library’s resources and services. Whether you’re a regular or it’s your first time visiting, we appreciate you—and we’d love to see you there!

No registration needed—just swing by, grab a treat, and celebrate with us!

Library Scavenger Hunt | April 10 - 12 

Think you know the library? Put your detective skills to the test! Embark on an exciting solo adventure to uncover things you can do at the library.

📢 Limited spots! Only 10 participants can play, and each must complete the hunt individually.

🔎 How to Play:

1. Ask for the first clue from the Information Desk—only the first 10 participants can join!
2. Follow the clues to explore different parts of the library.
3. Solve each challenge on your own—no teams allowed!
4. Complete the final task and return to the Information Desk to finish.

No registration needed—just drop in, grab a clue, and start the hunt! 

Thursday, March 27 | 6 - 8 p.m. | Register Here

Get ready to unleash your inner artist and snack enthusiast at our Craft & Snack Night at the library! Whether you're a crafting pro or just looking to try something new, this fun-filled evening is the perfect opportunity to create something beautiful while munching on delicious treats. ?????

Enjoy a relaxing, creative atmosphere where you can craft, chat, and indulge in some tasty snacks. From DIY projects to hands-on fun, it's the ultimate way to unwind and get your creative juices flowing!

Registration is required, so be sure to sign up by Wednesday, March 26. Don't miss out—grab your spot, and let's make something amazing together!

Tuesday, March 25 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. CDT | Phillip's Library computer lab

Create and edit Wikipedia articles of women who have been made visible through exhibitions, publications, and programs across the Smithsonian. Join us to learn how to edit Wikipedia pages, eat snacks, and make an impact this Women's History Month!

How to Participate:

1. Register for the virtual event from the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

2. Sign up here to let the library know you're attending. We want to make sure there are enough snacks for everyone!

Note: While it's not necessary to stay the entire time, those new to Wikipedia editing are encouraged to attend the first hour.

Phillips Library Resources 

Book Giveaway: Wisdom for Wildly Creative Women / Angela LoMenzo 

In celebration of Women's History Month, Phillips Library is hosting a Book Giveaway featuring Wisdom for Wildly Creative Women by Angela LoMenzo! Stop by the library, write down your name and email address, and drop it in the bin for a chance to win a copy of this inspiring book. The winner will be contacted on Tuesday, April 1. Don’t miss out on this chance to celebrate creativity and empower women!

Women’s History Month Display 

Celebrate Women's History Month by exploring our curated collection of digital titles highlighting the incredible contributions of women throughout history! Browse through inspiring books, documentaries, and more online, or visit our physical display in the library for even more amazing reads. It's the perfect way to honor and learn from the women who have shaped our world!

NEH Funded Virtual Bookshelf: Women’s History Month

View and borrow books from a selection of the National Endowment For The Humanities (NEH) - funded projects examining women's achievements and contributions to history, culture, and society. 

1. The Life and Times of Hannah Crafts / Hecimovich, Gregg | [I-Share]
2. The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture / Thorsson, Courtney | [I-Share]
3. Peace on Out Terms: the global battle for women's rights after the First World War / Siegel, Mona | [I-Share]
4. Lady First: The World of First Lady Sarah Polk / Greenberg, Amy [I-Share]
5. Free Thinker: The Extraordinary Life of the Fallen Woman Who Won the Vote / Hamlin, Kimberly [I-Share]

Online Resources 

Women's History is American History | Smithsonian American Women's History Museum 

In the United States, Women’s History Month provides a time for the individual and collective acknowledgement of women’s contributions, past and present. Thanks to the efforts of historians, activists, and women’s organizations across the country, each March since 1995 has been designated by presidential proclamation as a time to honor, acknowledge, and study women’s accomplishments throughout American history. 

In this spirit, we offer numerous ways to discover and learn about women in American history. Explore the resources below to see how you can join us in celebrating Women’s History Month 2025.  

Women's History | ThoughtCo

Learn about the half of history missing from many history books with biographies, articles, timelines and other resources on the women—famous and lesser-known—who have shaped our world.

National Women’s History Alliance

The National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) proudly established March as National Women’s History Month, ensuring diverse women’s voices and contributions are recognized and celebrated. Since 1980, when NWHA (then the National Women’s History Project) successfully advocated for the recognition of Women’s History Week, we have been amplifying the stories of all women who shaped history. In 1981, Congress passed a resolution officially establishing the week, with President Jimmy Carter issuing a proclamation. By 1987, NWHA’s continued efforts led Congress to expand the recognition to the entire month of March, creating the National Women’s History Month we honor today.

National Women’s History Museum

Founded in 1996, the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) is an innovative virtual-first museum dedicated to uncovering, interpreting, and celebrating women’s diverse contributions to society. A renowned leader in women’s history education, the Museum brings to life the countless untold stories of women throughout history, and serves as a space for all to inspire, experience, collaborate, and amplify women’s impact—past, present, and future. We strive to fundamentally change the way women and girls see their potential and power.

Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist

One of the defining artists of the 20th century, Elizabeth Catlett addressed the injustices she witnessed and experienced in the United States and Mexico through her bold prints and dynamic sculptures. See more than 150 of her creations in this exhibition, including rarely seen paintings and drawings.

Trace the career of this cultural force—from her roots in Washington, DC, Chicago, and New York to the remarkable body of work she made during some 60 years in Mexico. In striving to make art for the people, Catlett put justice at the very center of her work.  

Pattern and Paradox: The Quilts of Amish Women

Explore the creative practice of Amish quilters in the United States. Pattern and Paradox: The Quilts of Amish Women looks beyond quilting as a utilitarian practice. It reveals historical quilting among the Amish as an aesthetic endeavor that walked a line between cultural and individual expression. The quilts paradoxically twin the plain with the spectacular, tradition with innovation, and a dismissal of personal pride with objects often seen as extraordinary artworks.

Latinas Talk Latinas

This series introduces you to the lives of 17 Latinas, as told by educators, curators, and scientists across the Smithsonian. Join them as they explore stories of women breaking barriers— in everything from music and fashion to community organizing and scientific exploration—who have shaped the United States.

The Latinas Talk Latinas series is accompanied by digital educational resources that enhance learning about the featured women through highlighted Smithsonian collections.

Virtual Bookshelf: Women’s History Month

Join NEH in celebrating Women’s History Month this March with a selection of NEH-funded projects examining women’s achievements and contributions to history, culture, and society.

Friday, March 14 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. 

Register Here

Join us for a heartwarming and hilarious evening at Phillips Library with a special screening of Lady Bird! Get ready to laugh, cry, and reminisce as we follow Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson's unforgettable journey through high school, family drama, and self-discovery. Whether you're a fan of coming-of-age stories or just in the mood for a movie night with friends, this is the event for you!

Don’t miss out on this cinematic experience—registration is required, so be sure to sign up before the deadline on Thursday, March 13 at 5 p.m.

Grab your popcorn, settle in, and let’s celebrate this  gem together! 

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Lady Bird poster [Photograph]. Wikipedia.