We ran a bracket contest for naming the new vacuum robots on @Mizzou.Libraries Instagram. Frog and Toad were the winners! The robots will now be tiger-striped and labeled with their new names.
Staff news
Peer Navigator Corner: The Museum of Art & Archeology
Written by: Isabella Bickhaus
What hidden gem location is on Mizzou’s campus and is completely free for students to access? There is a long list of correct answers, but here are three of my favorites: the greenhouse inside Tucker Hall, the Laws observatory on top of the Physics building, and the Museum of Art and Archeology inside Ellis Library. While all three are great options if you have free time, the Museum of Art and Archaeology features a wide-ranging collection and hosts regular events that students can participate in.
According to their website, “the Museum’s collections include more than 16,000 objects from six continents and span five millennia – from prehistory to the present.” Not every item is on display all the time so I haven’t been able to see all 16,000 objects, but I have enjoyed some of their past and present exhibitions. Right now there are two exhibitions on display. Through May 2026, “Impressions: Black Spirit in America” explores Black experiences and their impact on American history and culture through art. At the same time “From Earth to Artist: Clay” focuses on art made with natural materials from the earth and runs through November. In addition to exhibitions, the museum has three ongoing galleries: the Saul S. and Gladys D. Weinberg Gallery of Antiquities, the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Gallery of European and American Art.
The museum also hosts regular events, which can be found on the events calendar. Midday Music is the second Thursday of each month, when you can enjoy the museum with live music. There are Drop in and Draw events that provide materials for patrons to sketch artwork, and family days that include special activities for children. Coming in late April this year is Art in Bloom, an “annual exhibit that pairs works of art with fresh flower displays arranged throughout the museum’s galleries.”
The museum is located in Ellis Library on the ground floor, but can be accessed without ever entering the library itself. One outside entrance is off of Lowry Mall, and the accessible entrance is off Hitt Street. If you would like to enter from inside the library, all you would need to do is walk past the Bookmark Cafe on the ground floor, take a left, and follow the hallway. Currently, their hours are 10-4 Tuesday-Friday and 12-4 Saturday-Sunday. To learn more, visit the Museum of Art and Archeology’s website.
Peer Navigator Corner: PN Student Podcast!
Written by Emilee Dillon
Introducing Between the Stacks
Between the Stacks is a brand new student-led podcast produced by the Peer Navigators at Ellis Library. Tune in to learn how you can make the best of your experience at Mizzou and stay up to date on all things interesting about Ellis and the Libraries.
Whether you’re looking for a new place to study or campus resources, Between the Stacks brings insider knowledge and fun conversations all in one place!
Your Hosts: The Peer Navigators
This podcast is hosted by the Ellis Library Peer Navigators. We are a group of student workers with the goal of being a friendly face to help our fellow tigers! As current students, we are able to help with some common questions and to share relatable stories. Your hosts break down everything you need to know about taking advantage of the Libraries.
What You Might Find Listening
Monthly episodes of Between the Stacks explore a variety of topics relevant to student life while also featuring recurring segments that highlight interesting and useful aspects of the library. The best way to find out is to tune through the Between the Stacks guide (where you can also find out about your hosts), or through YouTube. Recurring segments include:
- Common myths
- A main ‘story’ – for example, the 1st episode covers employment at the libraries
- Highlighting an unknown resource, like the digital media lab (where this podcast was recorded)
Your Inside Guide to Ellis Starts Here
Between the Stacks is an entertaining, relatable way of learning more about the library specifically designed by Mizzou students with you in mind! So, next time you’re walking to class, studying, or driving around Columbia, tune into Between the Stacks!
Peer Navigator Corner: Movies and Film
Written by: Annalise Miller
Ellis Library offers a wide range of film resources to support both classroom instruction and personal viewing. Although our campus library has limited streaming services, students and faculty still have access to some excellent alternatives. MU students and faculty can search Discover@MU on the University of Missouri Libraries website to find video materials in multiple formats, including DVD and film, making it easy to locate content for class, research, or just for fun.
If you prefer browsing in person, DVDs are available on the south side of the Reference stacks near the Information Commons on the first floor of Ellis Library.
You can also search the library catalog to locate specific titles or explore a curated list of films available at Ellis. Don’t have a DVD player? No worries – they are available for checkout at the North Service Desk on the first floor of Ellis!
For free streaming options, students can obtain a library card from the Daniel Boone Regional Library. This is a simple process that can be completed online at dbrl.org. Once on the site, select “Browse and Borrow,” to pull up a drop-down window, where you will then select “Get a card,” and apply online. Daniel Boone regional library has access to both Kanopy and Hoopla, free streaming service for popular movies and shows.
Happy watching, Tigers!
Article Spotlight: Why Every Scientist Needs a Librarian
“Why every scientist needs a librarian”
Nature, February 23, 2026
Creativity on Display: 2026 Visual Art and Design Showcase Online Exhibit
The Visual Art and Design Showcase presents the scholarly creative work of Mizzou undergraduates, featuring a wide range of artistic and applied design practices, including photojournalism, architecture, theatre set design, fashion, mixed media, and digital storytelling.
In partnership with the Office of Undergraduate Research, MU Libraries presents the 2026 Visual Art and Design Showcase Online Exhibit (link), launching April 10, 2026. Created to expand access beyond the gallery walls, the online exhibit invites jurors, families, friends, and the broader university community to explore and celebrate student work—wherever they are, during Show Me Mizzou Week and beyond.
Special thanks to Makenna Witzke for curating the 2025 and 2026 exhibits on Omeka.
In addition to the online exhibit, the 2026 Visual Art and Design Showcase will also feature in-person jury interactions and culminate in a gallery exhibition at Columbia Art League (April 14-24) and film screening (April 14). The Columbia community is invited to view creative and design works and interact with undergraduate creators.
- Film Screening on Tuesday, April 14 at 4:00 p.m. at Ragtag Cinema. Admission is free.
- Exhibition Opening Reception on Tuesday, April 14 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Columbia Art League.
4th Floor Vertical Lift Ready for Use Next Week
The 4th-floor lift, which provides access to Special Collections and University Archives, is complete and will be inspected on Friday. It will be available to start using next week.
In the News
“Mizzou Libraries host monthly BYOBook Club”
The Maneater, April 2, 2026
Book Recommendations From Your Mizzou Librarians
National Library Week is April 19th-25th, but we are always celebrating library joy.
In this list you will find books about:
- Libraries
- Librarians
- frankly, just books recommended by Mizzou librarians that may have nothing to do with libraries
You can see the list at this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-V7mG7q-pgQSat8yw8Zhy-meX14LTtLY33tOLEuQSHU/edit?sp=sharing
Peer Navigator Corner: Campus Third Places
Written by: Isabella Bickhaus
At the beginning of every new semester, working as a Peer Navigator in Ellis brings some of my favorite questions to the desk. Recently, I interacted with a student who wanted advice on where to spend their time between classes. This question of where to pass time on campus applies to both new and returning students. Mizzou’s campus is large, and not all academic buildings have seating outside of classrooms. This question reminded me of one reason I enjoy spending time in the Libraries on campus; they’re third places I know I can exist without any expectations. Access to resources, like printers and phone chargers, is also a major bonus.
What is a “third place”? The term was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, referring to spaces in our communities outside of homes (first places) and work (second places). Oldenburg considered third places as “a generic designation for a great variety of public places that host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.”
Along with the bustling Student Center, the iconic Columns (weather permitting), and Stankowski Field, the Libraries are popular third places on campus. From the outside, Ellis Library is an impressive building, and libraries can be stereotyped as silent, serious spaces, which can be intimidating. However, Ellis exists to serve students, faculty, and the community as a place to gather and interact. Beyond scheduled events, like BYOB Book Club or Calming Crafternoons, Ellis is a space where students can meet up for coffee in the Bookmark Cafe or heat up food in the microwaves on the ground floor. If I am stuck on campus with a dying phone or laptop, I know I can check out a charger from Ellis. Of course, Ellis provides a multitude of study spaces. From the silent, grand reading room to the collaborative tables on the first floor, there is a place for everyone at Ellis.