University of Iowa Libraries

The curtain closes on Friday for the Main Library Gallery’s “Orchestrating Community: The Public Service of Iowa Conductor James Dixon” exhibition. 
 
An Iowa native and a Hawkeye, conductor James Dixon (1928–2007) was instrumental in building orchestras at the University of Iowa, in the Midwest, and abroad. Through a look at Dixon’s adventurous international career, this exhibition provides a “behind the podium” look at how orchestras of all sizes connect with their communities and become crucial to sustaining them.
 
Co-curated by Sarah Suhadolnik and Katie Buehner, the exhibit uses materials from Special Collections and Archives and the Rita Benton Music Library at the University of Iowa Libraries to share the important work of orchestras through the lens of Dixon’s life.
 
The Main Library Gallery is free to the public and open daily. Find hours at lib.uiowa.edu/gallery or in our bio.

Your group is welcome here.
 
Whether you’re bringing a class of curious high schoolers, a community group ready to explore, or (and we mean this) your Nancy Drew fan club, the UI Libraries is ready for your visit.
 
From a tour of the Main Library Gallery to a peek inside Special Collections and Archives, which includes the Iowa Women’s Archives, a group visit is one of the best ways to experience everything they have to offer. And yes, they’re open to the Iowa City community, not just students and faculty.
 
Ready to plan your visit? 
 
Find booking links for the Main Library Gallery, Special Collections and Archives, and the Iowa Women’s Archives in our bio. 
 
Your community. Your UI Libraries.

Did you know Special Collections and Archives is open all summer? Did you know you don’t have to be faculty or a student to visit?

Meet Mary.

She comes to the Special Collections Reading Room a few times a week — not for a class, not for a deadline. Just because she loves it. She sits with our collections, discovers something unexpected, and gets to actually hold it. Turn the pages of something that’s been around for hundreds of years, maybe longer.

The librarians pull out items she never knew existed. They share their favorites, help her pick her next adventure, and every single visit she leaves knowing something she didn’t before. That’s the magic of Special Collections — every visit is a little bit of discovery.

History isn’t just in textbooks. Sometimes it’s in your hands.

The Special Collections Reading Room, located in the Main Library, is open to all patrons — no university affiliation or appointment required. Researchers, historians, curious neighbors — these collections exist to be explored, not just preserved.

Come learn something. Come teach yourself something. Come touch history.

Find everything you need at the link in bio. We recommend reaching out in advance if you’re traveling from a distance to confirm hours and availability.

Be like Mary. Your community. Your UI Libraries.

📍 Before GPS, there was this.

Tucked inside the Federal Depository Library Collection are some of our favorite hidden gems: vintage Iowa travel guides from the 1970s and 80s, published to encourage families to head off the highway and into the heart of the Midwest.

Flip through the pages and you’ll find the Bridges of Madison County, the ancient earthworks of Effigy Mounds, the quiet charm of the Amana Colonies — plus festival listings for Pella’s Tulip Festival and Nordic Fest in Decorah that read like a summer bucket list.

Former Governor Robert Ray said it best:
“Iowa has many faces...river bluffs and rolling prairies, metropolitan areas and quaint, little communities, historical, cultural and scenic attractions for all. Come to Iowa, a state for all seasons, a land for all people.”

Some things have changed. A lot hasn’t.

Come see these guides for yourself — and tell us in the comments: what’s your favorite Iowa vacation destination?

It’s a big week in Iowa City—the University of Iowa Libraries is proud to welcome for the 2026 AAMG Conference! 
 
We have a full evening of open house events lined up for attendees on Thursday, June 11. Swipe through to see the schedule—we can’t wait to see you around the Libraries. 
 
Art Library Open House | 4–6 p.m.

Cross the Iowa River and step into the sunlit space of the Art Library in Steven Holl’s Art Building West. Try button making and collage, and learn how the Art Library connects with the School of Art, Art History, and Design.
 
Special Collections and Archives Open House | 4:30–6:30 p.m.

Discover medieval manuscripts, artist’s books, wax cylinders, rare medical flap books, and more. Curators and staff will be on hand to share favorites and talk about how they collaborate with faculty across campus, and the Iowa Women’s Archives Reading Room will be open.
 
Main Library Gallery Open House | 5–8 p.m.

Visit Orchestrating Community: The Public Service of Iowa Conductor James Dixon, an archives-focused exhibition celebrating the adventurous musical life of a local celebrity. Curators and staff will be present to share more about the logistics behind creating full-scale library exhibitions. Plus, take a quiz to find out what kind of orchestra program you are! 
 
We look forward to seeing you and celebrating the creativity of our Distinctive Collections departments at the Libraries!

“Orchestrating Community: The Public Service of Iowa Conductor James Dixon” is on display at the Main Library Gallery through June 26 — and it’s free and open to everyone in the Iowa City community. 

Curated from letters, photographs, newspaper clippings, and archival recordings, this exhibit traces the life of a conductor who shaped orchestras at Iowa, across the state, and around the world. It’s the kind of story that deserves to be seen up close. 

No student ID or ticket required. Just stop by! 

And when you’re ready for what’s next, our fall 2026 exhibit—opening August 24— brings the story of J.N. “Ding” Darling to life.

A cartoonist turned conservationist who helped advocate for American wildlife. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it. 

Find hours and plan your visit at the link in bio.

Your community. Your UI Libraries.

These vintage National Parks posters by conservationist and artist Charley Harper have us longing for summer adventure. 🌲

Harper was known for his highly stylized, geometric approach to wildlife illustration — a style that revealed the unique character of each subject in a way that was both precise and full of wonder.

As part of the Iowa Digital Library, the University Libraries has digitized hundreds of historical posters from our collection — and there’s so much more where that came from.

Next month, we celebrate the anniversary of making government-published information freely accessible to the public.

Through the Federal Depository Library Program, the Main Library houses hundreds of thousands of government documents packed with history, insight, and research depth that’s open to everyone.

Ready to dig in?

Reach out to Ellen Wrede, our government information librarian, and she’ll help guide your research and connect you with the right direction.

Learn more 🔗 in bio.

POV: your library club gets a VIP tour of the UI Libraries 👀

We had the best time welcoming Liberty High School librarian Diane Brown and her student library club for a behind-the-scenes tour!

The students explored the Main Library Gallery to see our current exhibit, got hands-on time with rare and fascinating materials in Special Collections and Archives, learned what goes on inside our Conservation Lab, and headed over to the Rita Benton Music Library—where they saw items from the Arthur and Miriam Canter Rare Book Room and asked some great questions about music librarianship.

Oh, and two very special guests made an appearance: Wulfie and Monty, the unofficial mascots of the RBML.

A huge thank you to Diane for bringing this curious, enthusiastic group.

The Libraries are always better when students are in the building asking questions and getting their hands on history.