An important core of the event was a curated display showcasing original items from inside the recently discovered Wells Hall capsule. Attendees had the opportunity to inspect the handwritten letters—many of them written in cursive—and archival documents preserved from the 1920s. Though they were written over 100 years ago, many of the messages spoke directly to the students at Miami today.

A panel discussion highlighted the transformation of student life, focusing on the similarities and differences between students in 1923, when the capsule was sealed, and today. The conversation touched on major shifts in technology, communication, and campus culture while emphasizing the underlying values that unite Miamians across generations.

One of the most popular activities gave the attendees the opportunity to contribute to a time capsule of their own. Participants were encouraged to write a note that will be sealed in the Walter Havighurst Special Collections and University Archives for 100 years, ensuring that today’s campus leaves a lasting message for future Miamians.

The Walter Havighurst Special Collections and University Archives is a vital part of this yearly celebration. In this hub, Miami University’s vibrant past comes to life. This year is particularly special as we welcome Ani Karagianis, our new University Archivist. With a passion for accessible history and community engagement, Ani and the staff and librarians are leading the charge to bring institutional history directly to our students, faculty, and local community through an exciting lineup of events throughout the month.

Unboxing a Legacy: A Look at the Wells Hall Time Capsule
Friday, September 18 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (King Library, Room 320)

Kick off the festivities early as we unseal history. Join University Archivist Ani Karagianis for a look into the contents recovered from the historic Wells Hall time capsule. Discover the artifacts, letters, and everyday items left behind by past Miamians, offering an intimate window into campus life from decades past. Create your own letter to be placed in a University Archives time capsule! Register to attend at: bit.ly/TimeCapsuleRSVP

Bricklayer, Gate-Crasher, Superfan: Celebrating and Preserving the Legacy of Harry Thobe
Friday, October 9 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (King Library, Room 320)

Few figures in Miami history match the colorful eccentricity of Harry Thobe, the self-proclaimed superfan whose red-and-white megaphone and uninvited game appearances became game-day lore. This presentation will examine Harry Thobe’s life and legacy as both a bricklayer and a baseball superfan, which ultimately landed him a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It will also discuss the conservation work that was performed on the delicate materials in the Harry Thobe Collection. The freshly conserved Harry Thobe Collection will be out on full display as we celebrate the completion of this grant project.

Our People Believe in Education: The Unlikely Alliance of the Miami Tribe and Miami University
Tuesday, October 13 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (King Library, Room 320)

Join the Miami University Libraries as we host Cam Shriver, Myaamia Research Associate, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of History; and Bobbe Burke, Miami Tribe Relations Coordinator, Emerita, for a discussion of their new book, Our People Believe in Education: The Unlikely Alliance of the Miami Tribe and Miami University.

Cam Shriver and Bobbe Burke will tell stories that explain the unique connection between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University. Join us for the talk, a Q&A, and an accompanying exhibit displaying some of the archival resources critical to this story. There will also be an opportunity to purchase the book and to have it signed.

Written in the Western Stacks: The Love Story of David & Lana Rook
Friday, October 23 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (King Library, Room 320)

David and Lana Rook’s Miami merger didn’t start in undergrad. Instead, it took an extraordinary woman, Mary Yaple, a connection to Miami through Western College, and David’s passion for military history. Join us as we sit down with the Rooks to talk about their journey to and through the Miami University Archives.

Do You Really Want To Save That?
Thursday, October 29 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (King Library, Room 320)

Allen Bernard, researcher and deltiologist, will discuss the sacredness of the archival holdings and how collections resonate with people by creating a legacy.

Thanks to several curated exhibits brought on-site by Miami University librarians, event attendees were able to see and even handle tangible pieces of history.

Candace Pine, Rare Book & Manuscript Librarian; Jacky Johnson, Head of Special Collections and Archives; and Eric Harrelson, Preservation and Conservation Librarian, led the team that spent weeks preparing, transporting, and staging museum-quality artifacts for the evening. The team (image below) transformed primary sources into a showcase that made the documentary’s narrative both present and compelling.

Some of the items highlighted at the event included a red baseball cap embroidered with “WEEB,” the nickname of Coach Wilber Charles Ewbank; a collection of 13 Super Bowl pins; and a Miami Recensio yearbook from 1984 signed by John Harbaugh when he visited campus in 2026.

Perhaps the most exciting items were two of Paul Brown’s original playbooks from the 1954 Browns and 1968 Bengals. To make the display more engaging and provide viewers with the opportunity to dig deeper, our team made a copy of the 1968 playbook for people to flip through. One of the more meaningful moments of the night for the Libraries was when Mike Brown, the son of Paul Brown and the current Cincinnati Bengals owner, paused to look through his father’s 1968 playbook (image below).

At the Miami University Libraries, we believe that preservation is far more than storing paper in climate-controlled vaults; it is about keeping stories active and accessible. Our team’s conservation work ensures that fragile century-old memorabilia, delicate newsprint, and rare photographs remain preserved for future researchers, students, and sports historians. Safely staging these delicate items outside Special Collections required specialized archival handling, protective casing, and careful monitoring.

By bringing these treasures out of the library and into Paycor Stadium, we honored our storied athletic tradition while proving that conservation keeps living history alive. For those who were unable to attend the event in Cincinnati, the collection is currently on display in the Walter Havighurst Special Collections and University Archives. We hope that you’ll join us in King Library to view this powerful collection for yourself.

Following the retirement of Stan Brown, Mike Bomholt has stepped into the role of Interim Director of Library Technology. He will oversee library infrastructure, digital systems, and tech initiatives to keep our digital resources seamless. Mike has been with the Miami University Libraries for 23 years and graduated from Miami University.

Dani Owens has been hired as the Library Operations Manager. They previously worked as a Library Technician. In this new role, Dani will serve as the manager-on-duty and ensure the safe, orderly, and effective operation of library spaces, service desk, and study areas.

As a part of the Learning and Engagement team, Carolyn Heine will serve as the Student Success Librarian for Foundational Learning, focusing on helping students build core research skills, navigate library resources, and transition into university-level inquiry.

Anna Shaw will also join the Learning and Engagement team as she steps into the role of Student Success Librarian for Disruptive and Emerging Technologies. In this role, she will be guiding students through tools like generative AI, creative software, and advanced digital research platforms.

Makerspace Specialist Nathan Hall will continue in his role for another year. Nathan will continue providing hands-on instruction, workshops, and technical assistance in our Makerspace.

The Walter Havighurst Special Collections and University Archives is excited to welcome Ani Karagianis as our new University Archivist. Ani will oversee the preservation, collection, and accessibility of Miami University’s historic records, special collections, and institutional memory.

Barbara Darius joins as a new Library Technician, assisting with collection management, patron services, and day-to-day operations that keep our resources accessible to all. She is a recent Miami grad who will be working the late shift.

At the heart of everything we do is a simple idea: everyone who comes to the library can be a scholar. Our work goes far beyond books and screens—it’s about building a welcoming, inclusive community where curiosity is celebrated and everyone can achieve their academic goals. Our team brings those values to life every single day.

As you visit King Library or connect with us online this semester, please join us in extending a warm welcome to these team members. We are excited for the expertise, energy, and care they bring to our campus community.

For the 85 first-year architecture students who recently utilized the Makerspace, the experience added an exciting dimension to their regular curriculum. May Khalife,

Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design, teamed up with Sarah Nagle, Creation and Innovation Services Librarian, to bring this opportunity to life.

“I remembered that we had this great facility that we don’t use and it’s relevant to what our students do,” said May. “I realized it’s such a missed opportunity.” First-year students often start with traditional, hand-drawn work, but May realized that utilizing the Makerspace would allow her students to incorporate the digital aspects of 3D modeling and building, giving them a leg up. While architecture students gravitate to the Makerspace individually to use the machines, this project marked the very first formal partnership between the Makerspace and the architecture faculty.

Sarah Nagle was thrilled by the proposal. Though hosting 85 students was a massive logistical undertaking, the Makerspace team jumped into action. “I appreciate when faculty come to us so early,” Sarah noted. “You’ve got a runway to work with. You can do some really incredible things.”

The students’ response was overwhelmingly positive. Beyond mastering their assignments, they completely fell in love with the space—eyeing the podcast studio and the sewing machines for future projects. The students’ presence brought the space to life. May remembers, “It felt like a beehive. If you were there, you would be like, ‘everything is buzzing’.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Some students struggled with the files they created, while others experienced technical difficulties with the 3D printers. In those cases, the Makerspace staff stepped in. Sarah added herself to students’ projects as an online collaborator to help troubleshoot the student models directly, and John Williams, Makerspace Technology Specialist, was essential in fixing the printers.

For any faculty looking to partner with the Makerspace on projects, May offers the following advice—reach out early to give everyone time to prepare and listen to what the Makerspace has to offer.

It was a challenging few weeks but rewarding,” said Sarah. “It was the type of busy we want to be. Educationally rich with great outcomes for students. That’s exactly the thing we wanted to be spending our time on.” Plans are underway to evolve and expand the collaboration, ensuring that the partnership between Architecture and the King Libraries’ Makerspace continues to build a creative future.

Stan’s deep personal faith and dry wit have been a hallmarks over his years at the Libraries. While he successfully led and implemented the technological leaps required to run a modern academic library, he is proudest of how those systems served the university’s community. He views his legacy divided neatly into two camps—the personal and the professional. “I would like to have shared the love of God as I have dealt with people,” he says, though he adds with his characteristic humility and wryness, “I am quite sure that I have often failed.” Professionally, Stan also has much to be proud of. He has created a culture in his department where employees are supported and encouraged to reach for excellence. He never misses an opportunity to highlight the strengths and talents of those who report to him.

As he retires, Stan believes he will miss the people here at the Miami University Libraries the most. And for anyone coming after him, he offers the following advice, “Work hard,” he said. “Look for opportunities and build relationships.”

Meng Qu, Web Design Librarian, works on Stan’s team. She said, “There are so many fun conversations with him that I can’t list them all, but there were so many pieces of knowledge and warm moments. I will remember his support and endorsement for my career for my whole life, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.”

There is a theme in how Stan came to Miami, what has kept him here, and what he’s going to do after retirement. “God brought me to Miami and kept me here,” he said. “Someone might ask, ‘What is God doing at Miami?’ but that is a discussion for another time,” he added. As he looks to the future, he cites both additional church involvement and a daily “blog” that he sends out. He is currently working through the book of Luke one verse at a time. (If you are interested in signing up for his blog, send him an email.)

These days, Stan is reading a lot. He cautions that most of the books he’s currently working through require some knowledge of the subject but has a recommendation for anyone looking to pick up a fascinating read. “I would recommend any of them,” Stan said. “The Jesus Discoveries is one that could be read without the background. It gives an interesting perspective on the Shroud of Turin, among other things.”

Here is what Stan is currently reading:

• The Gospel of Luke (Two volumes) by Darrell L. Bock
• Wallace’s Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics by Daniel B. Wallace
• Progressive Dispensationalism by Craig A. Blaising and Darrell L. Bock
• God, AI and the End of History by John Lennox
• The Jesus Discoveries by Jeremiah Johnston

The Miami University Libraries extends its deepest gratitude to Stan Brown for his years of leadership, humor, and kindness. We wish him a peaceful and page-turning retirement!

Glenn remembers, “they said, ‘We’re going to have you do a full teaching load. We still expect you to be a great researcher, but teaching matters here.’ That was really unique and it was the reason I chose Miami. It was the kind of place I wanted to work.”

During his time at Miami, Glenn has spearheaded technology and innovation initiatives across campus. He remembers the Libraries as a vital partner during this time. “The Library has been there always,” he said. “It’s like a rock and I’m greatly appreciative for that.”

Looking to the future, he also recognizes the unique role that the Libraries plays in evolving technology. In his view, generative AI represents a powerful shift that will force higher education to change—like higher education, AI can deliver learning. We will have to decide how to respond. Dr. Platt believes the Libraries remain positioned to guide the next generation of students.

“Libraries are uniquely well suited to helping students figure out how to navigate the AI landscape,” he said. “How do you frame a good question? How do you evaluate information when it’s being presented to you? It’s not just about the degree anymore. Potential employers are going to care that you did something, that you made something. We more than ever will be judged on what we can do and have done.”

After 33 years at Miami, Dr. Platt is preparing for his next chapter. His startup, Lyceum AI was acquired by Perceptyx, an AI company focused on employee experience. Part of that acquisition includes Dr. Platt who will stay on to help develop the product and the strategy.

“I’m kind of doing it backwards,” he admits. “I think most people do industry and then they go to higher ed. I’m doing it the other way.”

To honor his multi-decade legacy of innovation, the Miami University Libraries has awarded Dr. Glenn Platt with the Special Friends of the Library award. As a part of the award, his name will be added to a plaque in the Dean’s suite at King Library, and we will place an honorary bookplate in a newly purchased volume within his field.

With one final question, we asked Dr. Platt to recommend something for us to read. He gave us two single-word books that he read recently: Grit by Angela Duckworth and Range by David Epstein.

Ken Irwin is a Web Services Librarian. He received a Master of Information and Library Studies from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Kalamazoo College. His scholarship focuses developing open-source solutions to solve challenging library issues and to make the most of our resources. His projects include MyGuide, a personalized research dashboard, and Software Checkout, a mechanism for “checking out” software licenses that has saved Miami students over $200,000. His current project, Argus, developed in collaboration with Miami Special Collections Librarian Rachel Makarowski, is a special collections project management tool that will save scholars and librarians time and effort in managing research projects.

Megan Jaskowiak is the Health and Social Sciences Librarian. She holds a Ph.D. in Botany from North Dakota State University and a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from Kent State University. She liaises with the Criminology, Gerontology, Psychology, Sociology, Speech Pathology and Audiology, Family Science and Social Work departments, as well as the Physician Associate Studies program. One of her primary responsibilities is supporting faculty, staff, and students conducting systematic and scoping reviews. A recent scoping review she co-authored with two Miami faculty members and a graduate student was accepted for publication in International Emergency Nursing. Her research has also appeared in the Journal of the Medical Library Association, Serials Review, Interlending & Document Supply, and the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.

Carla Myers received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Akron and her Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Kent State University. Her work in libraries focuses on fair use, copyright in the classroom, and library copyright issues, and she has presented across the U.S. and internationally on these topics. As coordinator of Scholarly Communications for the Miami University Libraries, she also helps lead campus affordability initiatives that seek to reduce or eliminate the cost of textbooks and other learning materials students use. In collaborations with partners in the library and across campus, these initiatives have saved students over $1.6 million dollars since 2018.

Dean and University Librarian Jerome Conley congratulated the three librarians saying, “Please join me in congratulating our colleagues on this exciting achievement. Their dossiers were absolutely stellar, and I am so happy to see that the board saw the merits of their achievements. I am so incredibly happy to have them on our team.”

Goal 1: Develop talent, resources, and experiences that facilitate community.

Talent Management – Staff Recognition: Workgroup members created and administered a staff survey to gather feedback on existing recognition and appreciation events. Based on survey results, they created a quarterly appreciation event - Donuts with the Dean. The workgroup also explored staff anniversary recognition, expanding on the work that the University does by aiming to honor Library-specific service. By laying the groundwork for a permanent committee, this workgroup has created conditions for continual positive change for our staff.

Goal 2: Transform the Libraries’ environment and user-centered experience to anticipate evolving modes of learning.

Library Recognition: The workgroup completed an environment scan of academic library awards to pursue and enacted plans to apply for select awards. The workgroup  submitted and drafted multiple applications for recognition of the Libraries’ recently-renovated Sidley Lounge space and has other applications in progress for submission in 2026. The processes created by this workgroup for identifying and applying for awards and other forms of recognition will help raise the national profile of the Libraries.

Goal 3: Forge meaningful partnerships that foster affordability, ensure relevancy, and cultivate life-long connections.

External Funding: This workgroup completed an environment scan for project ideas across the Libraries and created a project tracking tool to monitor grant projects from inception to completion. The workgroup also met with University Advancement’s Corporate and Foundation Relations staff to explore new routes for funding. The contributions of this workgroup have allowed the Libraries to quickly adapt to changes in the external funding environment.

Planning for Catalyst ‘26 is well underway, with this year’s initiatives being developed in intentional alignment with MiamiTHRIVE, the University’s strategic plan.

More information on Catalyst can be found at Lib.MiamiOH.edu/Strategic.

Join us to hear Don’s firsthand stories — from his journey to enroll at Miami and the inspiration for his life’s work to highlights from his enduring relationships with Miami’s past and current Presidents. You’ll hear why he characterizes his continuous service with such passion and generosity, and why he’s one of the most decorated volunteers in Miami history.

A former varsity athlete inducted into the Miami University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019, Don’s tireless commitment includes serving on the Board of Trustees, teaching classes in the Farmer School of Business, and twice receiving the Don Loss Volunteer of the Year award. He’ll also share the joys of his Miami family legacy, having a wife and two daughters who are all proud Farmer School of Business graduates.

EVENT DETAILS

• Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025

• Time: 11:00 A.M.

• Location: King Library, Room 320

• Virtual Option: The event will also be presented virtually. Register to attend