PDA Event: From Concept to Display: Creating Impactful Library Exhibitions

Melanie Emerson (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) and Leora Siegel (Chicago Botanic Garden, Lenhardt Library) draw on their experience across academic, museum, and research library contexts to illuminate the value of exhibitions as a core library function. They consider why exhibitions matter—how they activate collections, advance institutional missions, support teaching and research, and cultivate meaningful engagement with diverse audiences. From increasing the visibility of underrepresented materials to opening new entry points into collections, exhibitions provide dynamic opportunities to interpret, contextualize, and connect.