University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries

University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries The official account of the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida. We encourage t Go Gators!

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We’re jumping into June with a look inside our University Archives digital collection! Check out some of Sarah Coates’, ...
06/05/2026

We’re jumping into June with a look inside our University Archives digital collection! Check out some of Sarah Coates’, our fabulous University Archivist, favorite photographs.

Collaborating with the Alachua County Library District Headquarters Library Makerspace and the Marston Makerspace starte...
06/01/2026

Collaborating with the Alachua County Library District Headquarters Library Makerspace and the Marston Makerspace started with a tour.

Person at a craft booth holding a decorated item with a butterfly and daisies.A sign on a blue table invites people to make paper crafts with Alachua County and UF Libraries Makerspaces; art supplies and people are visible in the background.
In 2025, Brittney Merryweather, Makerspace and 3D Manager, met a Makerspace Coordinator,Greta Pallak, at the Headquarters Makerspace where Greta showed off the public library’s offerings, including a fun felt activity she had set up as an easy sewing example. Following that visit, Merryweather took that sewing example idea and combined it with a low-barrier entry activity framework to create the Marston Makerspace’s January 2026 Make and Take Felt Friends event. Thanks to the sharing of ideas, this activity wound up being the most popular Make and Take to date with over 70 people participating, averaging 1 person every hour the Marston Makerspace was open!

A few months later, the whole Headquarters team, including Joe Baca, a former Marston employee, came to a tour of the Marston Makerspace to brainstorm ways to work together in the future. They discussed the success of the Make and Take activities, potential for pop-up outreach events, repair cafes, contests/competitions, and ultimately a city-wide Maker Faire! They decided to start with an outreach event, and on April 12, 2026 both spaces shared a booth at the Oddities Market in downtown Gainesville. There, the makeries showcased a craft cutter as an example of tools available in the spaces, while participants engaged in a hands-on maker activity.

At the oddities event, 150 visitors learned about the resources the Makerspaces have to offer, enabling both libraries to reach new audiences and emphasize the value of library makerspaces. Due to the success of Marston’s Make and Take activities, the UF Libraries decided that the leftovers of the outreach event would go back to the Headquarters Makerspace to be used as their own Make and Take activity! The branches are in the planning phases of their next collaboration and are excited about possibilities.

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month and Pride! Keep an eye out for book displays, events, and more here at the Lib...
06/01/2026

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month and Pride! Keep an eye out for book displays, events, and more here at the Libraries!

05/29/2026

Can you guess the 3D print??

05/26/2026

Welcome to the Makerspace!

05/22/2026

Animating Hope: Izaak and Bertie Cohen's Puppet Theater shares a story of bravery, resilience, and courage in the face of horrific circumstances. During the N**i occupation of the Netherlands, Izaak (Ike) and Bertha (Bertie) Cohen hid in Rotterdam. Concealed in the upstairs apartment of Nico Dane and Gien Dane-Verkouter, the couple were often forced to hide in a narrow closet behind a staircase. They spent over two years in hiding under these dangerous conditions – often needing to hide from Gien’s own children who lived in the house alongside them without knowledge of the Cohens.

In this confined space, the Cohens created a puppet theater. Ike carved the wooden hand puppets while Bertie sewed costumes and painted the figures’ faces. The puppets were created using materials like firewood and fabric scraps, oftentimes from their already slim rations. Inspired by classic fairy tales, they used the puppets to stage clandestine performances for local children while their identities remained a secret, and their presence was obscured. These performances transformed an environment of fear into one of hope. Now their story is being shared by Yvonne and Tommy Cohen to continue the legacy of Izaak and Bertie’s bravery.

The Makerspace added some fun new blades for its popular Silhouette Cameo machines! These cutting tools use software to ...
05/22/2026

The Makerspace added some fun new blades for its popular Silhouette Cameo machines! These cutting tools use software to design and precisely cut all kinds of materials—perfect for bringing your creative ideas to life. Curious about working with fabric? Check out the latest blog post for tips on using rotary blades and take a look at the cute napkins students created last month!

https://makerspace.uflib.ufl.edu/2026/04/22/rotary-blade-for-silhouette/

05/20/2026

The University of Florida Presidential Search Advisory Committee unanimously recommended Dr. Stuart R. Bell to the Board of Trustees as the sole finalist to serve as the university’s 14th president.

Wanted: SGP concert posters. 🔍The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries archives is seeking Student Governm...
05/18/2026

Wanted: SGP concert posters. 🔍

The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries archives is seeking Student Government Productions concert memorabilia from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.

Please contact Sarah Coates at [email protected] if you’ve discovered some in your attic. 🎶

It’s MAYkerspace May! All May we’ll be highlighting the great work done in the Marston Makerspace. This space connects s...
05/15/2026

It’s MAYkerspace May! All May we’ll be highlighting the great work done in the Marston Makerspace. This space connects students with free tools, tech and materials to take a break and create!

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