Past Events | Libraries

With so much to celebrate, we never wanted it to end. We marked our anniversaries with exciting activities, events, good food and specialty drinks. More is planned for the Spring semester and we invite you to join in on the fun.

Gameday at the University Libraries!

October 25, 2025

On Gameday Saturday, 230 alumni, students, and campus visitors joined us in Love Library’s Adele Hall Learning Commons for refreshments, taking selfies with Corn Cob man, and a trivia contest focused on the history of the UNL Libraries for a chance to win a football autographed by Coach Rhule.

Celebrate gameday with UNL Libraries, UNL Libraries History Trivia Contest, Win a footbal signed by Coach Rhule sign
Gameday goers get refreshments

Staff working at table during popcorn popup event
Students attending the popcorn popup event
Laura Weakly standing next to corncob man cutout.
Students coloring while attending the popcorn popup event

Popcorn Pop-Up

October 23, 2025

In collaboration with Student Leadership, Involvement, & Community Engagement, the University Libraries was the featured host of the Popcorn Pop-up in The Crib (Nebraska Union). Libraries staff and faculty mingled with more than 220 students, made buttons, took selfies with Corn Cob Man, and enjoyed popcorn!

Husker History

October 2, 2025

An event by Archives & Special Collections demonstrated how memories can be animated through research, teaching, and the exploration of archival materials. The items on display featured:

Poetry from rare book collections along with records from literary societies and journals at UNL
Artists’ books and journals, including works by UNL alum and Pulitzer Prize winner Karen Blessen, as well as Ted Kooser, U.S. Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006
Photographic representations of Lincoln and the campus, both past and present

Participants also had the chance to share their own campus memories by contributing to a collaborative, crowd-sourced art journal that will be created during the event and preserved by the UNL Archives.

Staff creating mini art pages for a historical journal
Images by Liz McCue, UCOMM
People looking at archives documents.
Images by Liz McCue, UCOMM
Archival materials on tabletops with people looking at them
Images by Liz McCue, UCOMM
People viewing archives materials
Images by Liz McCue, UCOMM
People creating mini art pages for the historical journal
Images by Liz McCue, UCOMM
People viewing archives materials
Images by Liz McCue, UCOMM

Attendees at the volleyball event
Attendees listening to remarks.
Raffle prize of a volleyball signed by Dani Busboom-Kelly
Professional volleyball player Jordan Larson with attendees.
Ice cream served to attendees.
Dean Lorang giving remarks.
Jordan Larson gives remarks
Andy Jewell, Chair and Liz Lorang, Dean pulling names for raffle prizes.
Dayle Williamson volleyball raffle prize winner
Husker band members

A Volleyball Tailgate for Those Who DIG the Libraries!

September 24, 2025

This invitation-only reception was a signature event of the Pages to Paths: A Celebration of Our Libraries initiative.

Sixty alumni and donors came together to commemorate the anniversaries of the Libraries and their contributions to students, faculty, and citizens of Nebraska. In addition to comments from Dean Lorang, Nebraska volleyball star Jordan Larson emphasized the vital role Libraries play in supporting athletes, accompanied by a performance from the Big Red Alumni Pep Band.

Karen Blessen Journals Exhibit

The Muck, the Seeds, the Weeds, the Blossom
Event with opening remarks: September 18, 2025
Exhibit Open: Sept. 18, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026

The thoughts, life, and creative process of an artist are revealed to the public in The Muck, the Seeds, the Weeds, the Blossoming: The Journals of Karen Blessen, an exhibit that features 24 of Karen Blessen’s journals recently donated to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Archives & Special Collections.

Ice Cream Social Pop-up

Sep. 2, 2025

Libraries introduced the Dairy Store’s latest flavor for 2025-26, UNL Libraries Latte Crunch (a delightful mix of coffee ice cream, chocolate chips, and espresso pillows) to celebrate the anniversaries of the Libraries. More than 300 guests enjoyed our signature ice cream flavor.

Anniversary Kick-off Event

April 10, 2025

The kickoff reception introducing our signature mocktails. Invited guests included donors, university administrators, and members of the Steering Committee who advised the Dean on the Pages to Paths initiative. Remarks were given by Dean Lorang, Dean Button and Steve Allen of the University Foundation.