Student Exhibitions
Yale Library sponsors and supports student-curated exhibitions in the Sterling Memorial Library Exhibition Corridor.
Students curate exhibitions based on their own research with materials from any Yale Library collection. Exhibition topics and curators are selected by the Student Exhibition Advisory Group from proposals submitted by students. The library provides training in curatorial skills and production support, and student curators are supported in their work by library and faculty advisors.
Opportunities
Yale College juniors are invited to submit proposals for the annual Senior Exhibit, on view from April through October of the student curator’s senior year. Our other programs in the Exhibition Corridor are currently under review.
There are also opportunities for students to curate online exhibitions.
Program Goals
- Highlight Yale Library expertise, collections, and services
- Contribute to making the library the physical destination of choice for the Yale community
- Encourage collaboration among library staff, researchers, faculty, and students
- Offer opportunities for library staff professional development
- Present a “borderless” view of the library and its collections
- Uphold the highest standards for the care of collections on display and encourage good handling and preservation practices
Benefits to Students
Curating an exhibition can help students enhance academic and research skills. The experience:
- Provides a cohesive picture for the student of their academic support network: academic advisor, library specialists, IT specialists
- Develops a familiarity with physical library collections and spaces
- Provides experience researching with primary source materials
- Facilitates interactions with Yale Library staff
- Supports use of online resources to enhance research skills
- Encourages cross-disciplinary and cross-collection research and investigation
- Supplements traditional research outputs such as papers, essays, blogs, or web sites
Working with the curatorial team to produce and exhibition also supports life skills, including
For Library Staff
There are multiple ways for library staff to be involved with student exhibitions. You may:
- Encourage highly motivated and committed Yale College juniors to submit proposals for the Senior Exhibit Program.
- Volunteer to be a Librarian Exhibit Advisor and mentor a student curator through research and object selection. This is a professional development opportunity, with training provided by Exhibition Production staff as needed.
- Spread the word about exhibit opportunities in Sterling to colleagues across campus.
- Serve on the Student Exhibition Advisory Committee.
- Learn about online exhibits at Yale Library
For Faculty
There are multiple ways for Yale faculty to support the Student Exhibition Program. You may:
- Encourage highly motivated and committed Yale College juniors to submit proposals for the Senior Exhibit Program.
- Serve as a Faculty Advisor for a Senior Exhibit.
- Spread the word about new student opportunities to colleagues across campus.
- Attend an information session.
Advisory Group
The Student Exhibition Advisory Group oversees and supports the Exhibition Corridor program. The group is co-led by James Kessenides and Kerri Sancomb with membership from across Yale Library. Membership rotates annually, with members serving staggered two-year terms. There are also four permanent members.
The advisory group is responsible for:
- Increasing use of exhibition venues by Yale Library staff, Yale faculty and students, and Yale-affiliated groups
- Coordinating communication about the programming and use of the Exhibition Corridor
- Reviewing exhibition proposals to ensure that programming reflects and supports teaching and research at Yale
- Establishing and maintaining appropriate guidelines for the use of exhibition venues and the handling of objects on display
- Supporting the advisory co-chairs as needed
| Advisory Group Members | Term and role (if applicable) |
|
Deborah Cannarella, Writer | Public Relations Manager, Library Communications |
Permanent Member |
|
Megan Czekaj, Library Exhibit Technician, Conservation and Exhibit Strategies |
Permanent Member |
|
Sarah Davis, Library Exhibition Technician, Conservation and Exhibit Strategies |
Permanent Member |
| Permanent Member | |
| Committee Co-Chair, Permanent Member | |
|
Jessica Pigza, Associate Director, Arts Library Special Collections |
Two-year term |
|
Kerri Sancomb, Exhibits Production Program Manager, Conservation and Exhibit Strategies |
Committee Co-Chair, Permanent Member |