Illumination
The Magazine of the University of Maryland Libraries

It’s an exciting time of change and growth at the Libraries. In this issue of Illumination magazine, you’ll meet our new Dean of Libraries, Holly Mercer, who arrived in College Park with years of thoughtful leadership in academic libraries and a deep belief in the transformative power of higher education. You’ll also learn how the Libraries are navigating the evolving world of AI, see the impact of innovative donor-funded programs, and explore highlights from our growing collections.
In this issue ...

Meet Dean Holly Mercer
Peek inside the life of our new dean—an avid gardener, devoted pet-parent, and steadfast library champion. Discover how her passions, perspectives, and experiences have shaped her path and be sure to welcome her to Maryland when you see her around campus!

AI @ The Libraries
AI is transforming how we learn, research, and collaborate. At UMD Libraries, we’re embracing the promise of AI while upholding our values of access, ethical scholarship, and the advancement of knowledge for the public good. From AI literacy to tools for discovery, see how we’re preparing the UMD community for an AI-powered future.

Constructing Music History
In a course offered last fall, engineering students and music students paired up to study, design, and build a chalumeau, a baroque precursor to the clarinet. Students created blueprints, used the UMD woodworking studio, and 3D printed the metal keys. But first, they visited the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library.