UTA Libraries

UTA Libraries staff gathered on May 27 to celebrate Perla Vargas, FabLab Technician, and to thank her for the many contributions she has made to the Libraries and the UTA community.

During her time at UTA Libraries, Perla helped support students, faculty, and staff through her creativity, collaboration, and dedication to helping others succeed. Her positive presence and commitment to service made a lasting impact on the Libraries and everyone who had the opportunity to work alongside her.

While we are sad to see her go, we are excited for Perla as she begins this next chapter focused on family and new opportunities. We are grateful for all she has contributed to UTA Libraries and wish her continued joy and success ahead.

Thank you, Perla, for your service, kindness, and the difference you made in our community. You will always be part of the UTA Libraries family.

UTA Libraries staff gathered on May 27 to celebrate the retirement of Andrew Leverenz, Senior Web Developer, and to recognize more than two decades of service to The University of Texas at Arlington.

For the last 10 years at UTA Libraries, Andrew has helped shape and strengthen our digital presence in meaningful ways. From leading multiple website redesigns that improved the user experience for our campus community to supporting innovative digital humanities projects with faculty partners, Andrew’s work has had a lasting impact on students, faculty, staff, and researchers across campus.

Andrew has also been a valued member of the Marketing and Communications team, bringing collaboration, insight, and steady support to every project. His dedication to mentoring student developers reflects his commitment to helping others grow and succeed.

Thank you, Andrew, for your years of service, leadership, and the positive difference you have made at UTA Libraries. Your impact will continue to be felt for years to come.

We wish you all the best in your retirement and next chapter!

After 26 years of dedicated service to UTA, we recently celebrated the retirement of Antoinette Nelson, Staff Engagement & Liaison Librarian at UTA Libraries.

Throughout her career, Antoinette served in numerous leadership and service roles that helped shape our Libraries and strengthen our campus community. From Science Librarian to Staff Engagement Manager and Senior Librarian, her impact could be felt across every corner of UTA Libraries.

Known for her servant’s heart, Antoinette supported students, faculty, staff, and colleagues with compassion, professionalism, and care. Her work extended far beyond the Libraries through volunteer leadership, mentorship, campus service, resilience training, and community engagement throughout Arlington and beyond.

We are deeply grateful for the dedication, kindness, and leadership Antoinette shared with our community for more than two decades. Thank you for everything, Antoinette, and congratulations on your well-deserved retirement!

The world is coming to Arlington, and history is coming with it.

“Atlas of Champions” is now on display at the Arlington Museum of Art and in Special Collections. It features historic maps from Special Collections that highlight the nations competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches hosted in Arlington.

This exhibit connects sports, history, culture, and cartography in a way that brings people together through shared stories and global experiences. We’re proud of the incredible work by our UTA Libraries staff who helped curate and create this unique exhibition experience for the community.

Whether you love maps, history, archives, soccer, or Arlington itself, this exhibit offers something special to explore.

Learn more: https://arlingtonmuseum.org/atlasofchampions

Applications are now open for the Faculty Teaching in the Archives (FTIA) Grant at UTA Libraries.

The grant supports innovative, archives-centered teaching that connects students with primary sources from Special Collections and helps strengthen research, critical thinking, and collaborative learning skills. Through hands-on experiences with archival materials, students gain new perspectives while engaging directly with history and scholarship.

We’re proud to support faculty who create meaningful learning opportunities that contribute to student success both inside and outside the classroom.

Learn more and apply here:
https://libraries.uta.edu/news/faculty-teaching-archives-grant-applications-open-now

On Memorial Day, we take time to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in military service. It’s a day that invites reflection,not just on sacrifice, but on the people and communities behind those moments in history.

This 1951 photograph from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection shows Memorial Day services at Rose Hill Cemetery, honoring Major Horace Carswell, for whom Carswell Air Force Base was named. It’s a quiet reminder of how communities have long come together to remember and give thanks.

Images like this help keep those moments present with us today, connecting us to the past in a very human way.

View the photograph online:
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/specialcollections_startelegram1950s/11821/

Thursday's Lunch and Learn at UTA Libraries focused on collaboration, continuous improvement, and the important role each staff member plays in serving our campus and community.

We were grateful to welcome Mistie Maskil and Rebecca Holmes from UTA’s Change and Process Improvement Team within the Office of Information Technology. Their presentation explored strategies for streamlining processes, reducing administrative burden, enhancing the student experience, and building capacity for growth across the University.

Staff learned about the problem-solving process, from perceiving and defining challenges to investigating solutions, implementing change, and reviewing results. The session also encouraged meaningful reflection on collaboration, shared ownership, openness, and evidence-based thinking.

Training opportunities like these help strengthen the work we do every day in support of students, faculty, staff, researchers, and the public. By investing in professional development and growth-oriented thinking, we continue building stronger services and better experiences for the communities we serve.

Thank you to Mistie and Rebecca for an engaging and thoughtful presentation.

At UTA Libraries, a new Special Collections exhibit is exploring the global excitement surrounding the World Cup coming to Arlington.

The Atlas of Champions Exhibit features historic maps representing nations competing in World Cup matches. Drawn from UTA Special Collections, the exhibit highlights how maps have helped people understand, explore, and connect with the world across centuries.

Whether you are passionate about soccer, fascinated by history, or looking for something new to experience on campus, Atlas of Champions offers a unique opportunity to see global stories through rare and historic maps.

Read more about the exhibit and how it connects UTA Libraries’ collections to one of the world’s biggest sporting events:
https://libraries.uta.edu/news/atlas-champions-connects-uta-libraries-collections-world-cup-coming-arlington

UTA Libraries staff brought their Maverick spirit to the Blazing Race this week, joining teams from across campus for a day focused on wellness, teamwork, and connection.

Morgan Chivers, Austin Gilmore, Iverlyn Peng, Katie Peery, Antoinette Nelson, and Kelly Dill represented UTA Libraries as they raced across campus solving clues and completing challenges inspired by UTA’s 8 Dimensions of Wellness.

The event gave our team the opportunity to step away from their desks, work together in new ways, and strengthen camaraderie with colleagues from across the University. Events like the Blazing Race remind us that a strong campus community is built not only through the work we do, but through the relationships we create along the way.

We are proud of our Libraries team for showing up with energy, collaboration, and plenty of Maverick spirit

A new digital exhibit is on the way from UTA Libraries and the Department of History & Geography, launching July 4.

“Mapping a Nation” tells the story of the United States through a powerful collection of maps spanning from 1776 to the present. Each map featured in the exhibit was thoughtfully selected by a student, faculty member, donor, or history enthusiast, accompanied by a personal reflection sharing what the map reveals and why it resonated with them.

This exhibit highlights how maps can serve as more than historical records; they are tools for learning, interpretation, and connection. For students, researchers, and the public, this digital experience offers valuable context for academic work, creative projects, and a deeper understanding of how place and identity evolve over time.

We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this collaborative project and helped bring these perspectives together in one meaningful collection.

Read more about the exhibit:
https://libraries.uta.edu/news/uta-libraries-and-history-geography-department-launch-mapping-nation-digital-exhibit