Stories of Impact

Performing Arts Archive Celebration Showcases the Power of Archives to Inspire Creativity

More than 125 attendees gathered at Mason Square in Arlington on October 23 to experience how archival collections spark creativity, support scholarship, and preserve the stories that shape our cultural history. The George Mason University Libraries welcomed faculty, students, alumni, artists, researchers, and community members for the Performing Arts Archive Celebration, an evening highlighting the lasting impact of the libraries' Performing Arts Archive.

Guests explored interactive exhibits featuring materials from the Arena Stage, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Federal Theatre Project collections. Through hands-on activities and creative exercises, attendees discovered how historical materials continue to inspire new ideas, performances, and research. Thanks to the support of donors and sponsors, the libraries can share these collections in engaging and meaningful ways.

The evening featured a musical performance by Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Linda Apple Monson, director of the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, followed by a panel discussion exploring the role of archives in scholarship, teaching, and the arts.

One attendee described the event as “a wonderful gathering and array of archival treasures,” while another called the libraries' Special Collections Research Center and Performing Arts Archive program “one of George Mason's crown jewels.” The celebration demonstrated how archives connect past and present while creating opportunities for learning, discovery, and community engagement.

Help Preserve George Mason's Performing Arts Legacy

Want to help preserve George Mason’s performing arts legacy? Your support helps preserve these irreplaceable collections, expand access to archival materials, and create programs that connect students, scholars, artists, and the community with George Mason's rich cultural heritage.

Beyond the Stacks: Celebrating Becca Arm's Student-Centered Vision

The George Mason University Libraries celebrate Becca Arm, recipient of the 2026 Virginia Library Association Academic Outstanding Professional Associates Award, recognizing her leadership in developing student-centered collections and championing the value of graphic novels in academic library spaces.

Since joining the University Libraries in 2016, Becca has helped students discover resources that reflect their interests, experiences, and academic pursuits. As user and collection services coordinator at Mason Square Library, she oversees resource sharing, stacks maintenance, and technology support while helping shape popular Recommended Reads and Graphic Novels collections.

Her background in museum studies and passion for literature have helped create welcoming, engaging spaces that connect students with library resources in meaningful ways. Congratulations, Becca, on this well-deserved recognition.

Turning the Page on Pulp Fictions

The Special Collections Research Center's recent exhibition, Pulp Fictions: The Stories We Tell About Paper, invited visitors to rethink paper not simply as an everyday material, but as a powerful medium for communication, creativity, and historical record. Drawing from rare books, archival collections, letters, and artists' materials, the exhibition explored the many stories a single sheet of paper can tell.

Co-curators Amy Sullivan and Stephanie Grimm partnered with colleagues across the libraries to showcase materials that highlighted paper's cultural, artistic, and historical significance. Organized in conjunction with the School of Art's Paper as Politic symposium and the Fenwick Gallery exhibition Pulp Translations, the project encouraged visitors to see familiar materials from new perspectives.

Exhibitions like Pulp Fictions do more than showcase unique collections. They foster interdisciplinary conversations, support original scholarship, and create opportunities for learning and discovery across campus and beyond.

While Pulp Fictions closed in October, visitors can look forward to the next Special Collections Research Center exhibition featuring materials that commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and explore the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Next time you're in Fenwick Library, take a few minutes to explore the gallery on the 2nd floor. You might be surprised what you find!

George Mason Librarian Earns National Recognition for Innovation

The George Mason University Libraries are proud to celebrate Stephanie Grimm, art and exhibitions librarian and book arts curator, who has been named a 2026 Library Journal Movers & Shakers Innovator, a prestigious national honor recognizing library professionals who are advancing and transforming the field.

Grimm's work brings together research, creativity, and community engagement in ways that inspire students and faculty across disciplines. Through exhibitions, artist talks, comics programming, and hands-on workshops, she helps students explore the connections between scholarly inquiry and creative practice.

Her impact extends far beyond campus. Grimm has contributed to national conversations on comics scholarship, helped shape George Mason's multidisciplinary Dynamic Publishing Program, and developed educational games that use interactive experiences to teach historical thinking.

This national recognition highlights the innovative work taking place throughout the George Mason University Libraries and reflects our commitment to creating transformative learning experiences for students and the broader community.

Support Innovation at the George Mason Libraries

Donor support helps make this kind of groundbreaking work possible. Your investment fuels innovative programming, exhibitions, student learning opportunities, and creative research experiences that enrich our campus and community.

Read Stephanie Grimm's full Library Journal profile

AI Boot Camp Attracts Students Across Disciplines

The University Libraries’ first AI Boot Camp for Graduate Students, held August 18–20, 2026, gave George Mason graduate researchers a practical introduction to artificial intelligence and its role in academic work.

Created from an idea by Crystal Boyce, health and biosciences librarian, and Heidi Blackburn, former computing librarian, the boot camp brought together experts from across the libraries and university partners, including the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance, Information Sciences and Technology, Microsoft, and Azure. Together, they helped students explore how AI can support research while also addressing important questions about accuracy, ethics, and responsible use.

The program drew 92 registrants from eight of George Mason’s 10 colleges, representing at least 23 disciplines. Across 13 sessions, students learned about prompt engineering, research data management, evaluating AI-generated information, literature discovery, and academic integrity.

Participants praised the program’s value and timeliness. One new doctoral student called it “daunting for me, a newbie, but oh-so valuable,” while another appreciated seeing how the university and libraries are keeping pace with emerging technologies. Overall, 77 percent of survey respondents were very satisfied.

Attendee feedback pointed to strong interest in future offerings, including recurring workshops, and more discipline-specific guidance. The boot camp demonstrated the libraries’ growing role in helping George Mason researchers use AI confidently, critically, and responsibly.

Bringing Espionage History to Life

The Historic Intelligence Speaker Series exemplifies how donor-supported collections can inspire dynamic public programming. Built around the world-class Hayden B. Peake Historic Intelligence Collection, the series brings leading historians, authors, and experts to campus to illuminate the history of intelligence and espionage.

A recent event featuring historian and author Alexander Rose offered audiences a compelling look at America's first spy network, drawing directly on research made possible by the depth and breadth of the Peake Collection.

Center for Mason Legacies

Community-Engaged Scholarship

The Center for Mason Legacies (CML) continues to demonstrate the power of interdisciplinary, student-centered research supported by the libraries. During the Black Lives Next Door symposium, graduate students shared innovative projects that combine archival research, digital tools, and community partnership to uncover overlooked Black histories in Northern Virginia.

Supported by philanthropic investment, CML provides students with mentorship, research opportunities, and platforms to share work that challenges long-held narratives and strengthens connections between the university and surrounding communities.

Family Study Space at Fenwick Library

George Mason University Libraries is transforming support for student parents and caregivers thanks to a generous gift from Foster Care to Success (FC2S). The donation will fund the design of a family-friendly space in Fenwick Library, creating a comfortable, safe environment where students can study while the children they care for are welcome and supported.

The gift funds three key improvements:

• Family Study Room: Study spaces with play areas for children
• Children's Literature Collection: Expanded book collection
• Family-Friendly Library Area: Accessible, welcoming space for families

Exploring Civic Knowledge and Democracy

Library faculty and curated library spaces play a vital role in advancing civic learning. A recent book event featuring George Mason History Librarian and Professor George Oberle highlighted themes from his new book, Creating an Informed Citizenry, examining how early Americans built systems of knowledge in a young democracy.

Hosted in Fenwick Library, the event underscored how the libraries serve as forums for scholarly exchange, public discussion, and lifelong learning, activities made possible through continued philanthropic support.