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Some library spaces, collections, and services will have limited availability from May through July 2026 as we move into Carrier Library – Read More about Some library spaces, collections, and services will have limited availability from May through July 2026 as we move into Carrier Library

Category: Giving to JMU Libraries News

Managing Miles of Books (and So Much More!): Meet Our Director of Collections

Posted April 21, 2026

Ever wondered what it takes to manage a university library’s collections? At JMU Libraries, a hard-working team of professionals and student staff selects, organizes, and maintains accurate metadata for over 1.8 million ebooks and half a million books and other […]

aerial view of dozens of bookcases in a warehouse

The little Gallery Underground Sparks Inspiration in an Unlikely Space (from The Madison App)

Posted April 10, 2026

A decade ago, the windowless basement in the Music Library, with its plain concrete walls, offered little inspiration to the student musicians who frequented the space. Music Library Services Manager Karen Snively (’95) wanted to change that.

framed artwork on the wall in the little gallery undergrounds in JMU's music library

The Great Move: Preparing Carrier Library for August

Posted April 9, 2026

When Carrier Library reopens this August, it will once again be filled with the books and other resources that Dukes rely on every day. Getting them there, however, requires a carefully planned series of moves.  Our teams are currently focused on moving thousands of pieces of […]

photo of carrier library's grand reading room

Feature Friday: From Graduate Assistants to Digital Scholarship Leaders

Posted April 3, 2026

For former JMU Libraries graduate assistants Mariam Ismail and Iliana Cosme-Brooks, their time in the Libraries was more than a job—it was a turning point.  Today, Mariam and Iliana are building careers in digital scholarship and academic publishing, carrying forward the skills and perspectives they […]

photo of Mariam and Iliana at JMU graduation

Feature Friday: Advancing Archaeology Through Collaboration 

Posted March 27, 2026

When Dr. Dennis Blanton reflects on his career at JMU, one theme stands out: collaboration.   As a professor of anthropology preparing for retirement this spring, Blanton has spent decades uncovering the stories of the past—most recently through research on early […]

Photo of Dr. Dennis Blanton and Jared Wark with artifacts and a 3D scanner in The Makery.

From Classroom to Camera: Madison’s Story

Posted March 10, 2026

Every year, students nearing the end of JMU’s Physician Assistant (PA) program are required to complete a Capstone Project. As part of the Capstone Project, students are given the opportunity to play the part of a PA in a mock […]

5 Former Libraries Student Employees and What They’re Doing Now

Posted March 6, 2026

Each year, JMU Libraries provides on-campus jobs to almost 100 hardworking student employees who develop professional skills and make lasting memories while serving the campus community. But the story doesn’t end when they graduate. The lessons learned behind the desk, […]

Alumna Creates the “Karen Stultz Whetzel Stacks & Scholars” Scholarship for Libraries Student Employees

Posted March 4, 2026

Former JMU Libraries student employee and proud “Double Duke” Karen Stultz Whetzel (’71, ’74M) has given back to the community that helped shape her journey by establishing a meaningful scholarship for JMU Libraries student employees. This heartfelt gift will support […]

Support All Dukes on JMU Giving Day

Posted February 26, 2026

Your gift powers learning for all Dukes. Libraries connect people with ideas—and with opportunities to learn and grow. They’re where students and scholars draw on the wisdom of the past and help shape the future. When the expanded Carrier Library […]

give like a duke

Beyond the Textbook – Students Preserving Local Black History at Simms

Posted January 30, 2026

Next time you’re in the Northeast neighborhood of Harrisonburg, look for the Lucy F. Simms Center—a large brick building next to Ralph Sampson Park. If you think it looks like a public school, you are correct. This community center was once the Lucy F. Simms School, a cornerstone of the Black community in Harrisonburg, VA, until it was closed in 1965 as part […]

Mary Awkard Fairfax and students standing in front of Lucy F. Simms School