Through the Library Doors: Student Stories That Bring the Library to Life

What's something you figured out how to use in a UNM library or through the website?

How to access articles and how you just being a students gets you access to resources at UNM but through other universities as well.

Did anyone give you advice about the UNM library that was useful?

The librarian showed me how to access and request articles through other universities and how I could do it just because I am a student. How I do not only have the UNM Library website to get articles but other as well and as long as I am a student and sign in and request articles, it is unlimited what resources I need for my academics or interests

Has there been an assignment or project of which you are proud, that helped you discover something about a UNM library or its materials? What did you discover?

I had an assignment in a sociology class and I had to write a paper about the Mixe group, and there family and friends relationship dynamics, this is where I learned how to check out a book, as I learned using the library website that the article in the UNM Database was actually in book form and would be easier to use. I learned how to check it out, learned where to find specific books, and that the students who work in the library are there to help. It really added to specialness of the library and it was cool to understand how the library works.

What's the most memorable library experience you've had at UNM libraries?

One is where I met the librarian because since then she has supported me with resources of the library which allowed me to thrive academically. Another is just the aesthetic of studying in the library, and the motivation it gives to study and to do good. Another memorable thing is preparing at the library for big assignments or the end of the semester, it was just a vibe that was there and something I will always remember.

Without the library...

I would have not found articles that helped me with assignments and papers, not have met the people that I know, and would not have enjoyed most of the memories I have in college.

What's something you figured out how to use in a UNM library or through the website?

Learning how to effectively use ILLIAD to request articles that are not available through UNM became a huge part of my thesis research since my topic is so specific and uncommon.

Did anyone give you advice about the UNM library that was useful?

The URAD research workshop taught me some helpful basics of the library website, but working one-on-one with a librian was incredibly useful. They were able to give me personalized advice and showed me exactly how to search for what I needed.

Have you given advice to anyone else about using a UNM library?

I always recommend people meet with a personal librarian! Especially if they are working on a thesis or specific research project.

Has there been an assignment or project of which you are proud, that helped you discover something about a UNM library or its materials? What did you discover?

I am writing a thesis about the potential benefits of psychedelics for end of life distress as well as the connections between DMT and near death experiences. Meeting with a librarian was instrumental to my literature review process. I had only been able to find some very basic articles, so it was extremely help to have them scour the databases with me to ensure I found everything I could about this pretty obscure subject.

What's the most memorable library experience you've had at UNM libraries?

When I discovered the entire philosophy section in Zimmerman I was overwhelmed with the amount of books I wanted to check out. For some reason I never thought to go to the philosophy section and was struggling to find philosophy resouces online. I absolutely loved getting to explore that section and found so many fascinating books I never would have found online.

Without the UNM library...

My thesis would be a mess!

What's something you really wish you could say to the UNM library?

Thank you to the librarians specifically for helping me so much with a project that was so meaningful for me.

What's something that you figured out how to use in a UNM library or through the website?

Something that I learned from UNM library was how to use multiple keywords, to get more specific in a topic and many articles locked behind a paywall can easily be accessed through UNM libraries. Another great asset that can be found at UNM website is the ask a librarian, many times the librarians will help you research your topic and find ways to get you started on your research. Everyone in the library staff is extremely helpful, and will help you in every way that they can.

Did anyone give you advice about the UNM library that was useful?

If you find an article in google scholar and it's locked behind a paywall, make sure to look in the UNM library or talk to a librarian. Many times they were extremely helpful in helping me bypass so many obstacles in my research.

Has there been an assignment or project of which you are proud, that helped you discover something about a UNM library or its materials? What did you discover?

I did research on Filipino Americans and why they tend to always become nurses, through this research I connected deeper to my culture, learned my history, and brought knowledge to so many people in my community. Through interviews with community members, authors and professors, it felt as if my research was a blanket of weaved stories and editorials of the Filipino spirit.

What's the most memorable library experience you've had at UNM libraries?

Grinding out my paper till 12 AM multiple nights with a redbull in my hand.

Without the library...

I would have not done research effectively.

What's something you really wish you could say to the UNM library?

Thank you for your unwavering support.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Use every resource! Make mistakes and fall in love revealing your research and finding your full story.

What's something you figured out how to use in a UNM library or through the website?

Recently I was working on a project where I had to find and save copies of articles and literature cited ina research paper I was helping to organize. I ran into a roadblock when I was unable to locate any full, accessible record of an article published in a sociology journal from 1964. After my search was unsuccessful, I had to consider other options and discovered that UNM Libraries has an Interlibrary Loan program. While I was familiar that programs like this existed for hard-copy books, this was the first time I had ever seen an Interlibrary Loan program cover digital resources as well. As it turned out, the article I needed was available through the program and it was delivered to me shortly after I had registered for it.

Did anyone give you advice about the UNM library that was useful?

The best advice I have received about UNM Libraries was from my professor, Dr. Ying Xu, for ENGL2210 - Professional & Technical Communication. In her class, I had to write an analytic report about a problem in our local community. FOr this project I authored a 78 page paper on systemic gender disparity in my previous place of residence: Owensboro,KY. Dr. Xu instruted me to greatly condense my paper. I ultimately revised it down to 13 pages and after reviewing it, she recommended I submit the paper to the Jim and Mary Lois Hulsman Undergraduate Library Research Award Program. This program was highly affirmative for me, not only because I ended up tying for 1st place in the Emerging Undergraduate Researchers category, but because the entire process was the first time I felt that my academic contributions were valued and that my decision to move halfway across the country to attend UNM was confidently the right decision.

Have you given advice to anyone else about using a UNM library?

I believe the best advice I could give anyone about UNM LIbraries is to simply set aside the time to visit any of the libraries and allow yourself to experience the magic of the library environment. It is a powerful motivator to be in an environment where students are learning, investing in themselves, and united in this common purpose of puttin gin the hard work now so they can kickstart their professional careers and achieve great successes later on in life. This is a difficult environment to replicate and in my view, there are few places at UNM or otherwise where you can find this level of energy than the libraries.

What's the most memorable library experience you've had at UNM libraries?

It is difficult to choose just one memory. From those late-night homework sessions that would run up right into closing time to randomly running into friends hanging out at group study to trying to keep all my technology still running, UNM Libraries has been a significant part of my life. I would say one of my most recent memories was last semester. It was the night before my first medterm and I was on the mend from what was a terrible and exhausting month in terms of getting sick. My and one of my friends bunkered down in the Graduate Commons in Zimmerman becuase we had to marathon 3 chapters' worth of homework for MGMT 546: Financial Accounting III over the course of 3-4 hours. With determination, concentration, and a lot of apple juice, we forged through all the homework and I ended up doing great on the midterm exam.

Without the UNM library...

I would not have had a reliable and dependable place to study, learn, and refresh from the daily grind during my first year as a student at UNM. At the time, Zimmerman was the one place I could go to both lock in on coursework that needed to get done and to help slow things down when I needed breaks from everything else going on in my life. As someone that prefers to spend a lot of time outside the home, there was no place where my productvitiy was better than at Zimmerman.

What's something you really wish you could say to the UNM library?

Thank you. I am so grateful that you were there for me when I needed you most and I wish I had gotten to know more of you - not just Zimmerman and Centennial, but everything in the UNM Library ecosystem

What's something you figured out how to use in a UNM library or through the website?

Google scholar! Learning about google scholar helped me learn how to access art for free as a student.

Has there been an assignment or project of which you are proud, that helped you discover something about a UNM library or its materials? What did you discover?

I wrote a paper on Prometheus Bound by Peter Paul Rubens and Frans Snyders. In this paper I investigated how Zeus crafted punishments to humiliate and hurt Prometheus. Furthermore, I investigated how Peter Paul Rubens and Frans Snyders used artistic elements such as line, form, etc. to prove that Zeus intentionally punished Prometheus to humiliate. I utilized google scholar, Zimmerman Library, and the Fine Arts library to write this paper. This access made education and the investigation of art possible. I discovered research is a coveted art now that I've graduated. Access to research materials isn't as accessible post graduation.

What's something you really wish you could say to the UNM library?

That I wish access to research and UNM library materials was more accessible to alumni.

Has there been an assignment or project of which you are proud, that helped you discover something about a UNM library or its materials? What did you discover?

During my Intermediate Composition class, I had the honor of developing a research paper titled "Inside the Margins: Favela Tourism Beyond Tourist Lenses." This project was especially meaningful because it allowed me to explore the complex social and economic realities of tourism in Brazilian favelas, communities that are often misunderstood or stereotyped. To build a strong foundation for my paper, I relied heavily on the UNM Library's online resources. I used the library website to search for academic articles not only in English but also in Portuguese, which helped me access both international and Brazilian perspectives. This multilingual research approach gave me a deeper and more accurate understanding of the topic, something that would not have been possible without the tools and access provided by UNM Libraries. After completing the project, my instructor, Professor Lucero, encouraged me to submit the paper to The Jim and Mary Lois Hulsman Undergraduate Library Research Award. I was incredibly honored to be awarded third place. That recognition showed me how powerful and transformative research can be when students have access to the right tools and are supported in thinking critically and creatively. This experience helped me discover how essential the UNM Library system is, not only for gathering information but for expanding my perspective, supporting my academic voice, and connecting me to global conversations. Without the library's resources, I would not have been able to develop a project that was so deeply connected to my academic interests and personal background

What's the most memorable library experience you've had at UNM libraries?

One of the most memorable experiences I've had with the UNM Libraries took place during my Environment and Peoples class last spring. As part of the course, we met with a UNM librarian who introduced us to Zotero, a citation management tool that I had never used before. Learning how to organize sources, generate citations, and streamline my research process using Zotero was incredibly helpful, especially for larger writing assignments. What made the experience stand out even more was how welcoming and knowledgeable the librarian was. She not only walked us through the basics of Zotero, but also took the time to explain several other features available through the UNM Library website. I had no idea that students could schedule one-on-one appointments with librarians for help with citations, research strategies, or even locating hard-to-find academic articles. That moment made me realize that the library is not just a place to study or check out books, but a space full of support, tools, and people genuinely invested in student success. This experience opened my eyes to how much guidance is available when you're willing to ask for help, and it has changed the way I approach research ever since.

Without the UNM library...

I would not have had the resources or confidence to turn my ideas into an award-winning project.

What's something you figured out how to use in a UNM library or through the website?

The UNM Library Website holds a massive archive of published Journals, Articles, and Letters that have all be peer reviewed. It's a great place to look for reliable sources and keep up to date with research in your field.

Did anyone give you advice about the UNM library that was useful?

A librarian at the Arts and Design Library taught me house to use the search engine on the library website. I highly recommend visiting the library one day and asking for a guided tour - especiaally if you do a lot of research in your degree path. Public health, urban planning, anthropology, social sciences - there's research to support all of it but using the search engines to effectively find it can be confusing without help. Go to the library. Ask for help. Ask for tips and filters. It will make a huge difference in the ease, reliability, and quality of your research.

Have you given advice to anyone else about using a UNM library?

I've recommended the Arts and Design Library to a few friends, because there so many culturally rich perspectives that step outside of the reductionist, often individualistic box of Western knowledge centered in University's and Institutions. Books in other languages, from Bolivia and Brazil for example, talk about trees in the urban landscape not as "green cover" or "air filtration" - though these are vitally important functions - but as beings that inhabit the city. The Bolivian perspective discusses trees as citizens. Intelligent. Alluring. Beautiful. Present. Absolutely central the feel, function, life of the city. The western and the and animate perspective can be complementary knowledges, illuminating and strengthening one another in practice. Yes, trees serve to filter the air and cool the ground around them, but if we acknowledge them also as intelligent citizens the meaning behind our work - as their stewards - is completely enriched. If you believe in decentering the West to get a more full, accurate, and animated world view I definitely recommend the Arts and Design Library. There are some gems in there.

Has there been an assignment or project of which you are proud, that helped you discover something about a UNM library or its materials? What did you discover?

Last year I completed a research project on food security, emergency food access, and regenerative local food systems in the 505. My research was guided by a topic of profound importance to me: hunger, nutrition, and access. We've all noticed the grocery store price tags climbing steadily higher, sometimes doubling or tripling on staple items like vegetables and eggs. As a young woman making $12 an hour (with college debt), I wonder how mothers manage to feed their families. Even working full time, how do they do it? Do mothers have to spring for the cheapest option? Do they have to just sigh, placing the most affordable carcinogens, chemicals, poisons, and artificial growth hormones into their carts because it's the only way they can feed their children? I wonder if they worry, like me, about the health of their bodies, or the systems of life being destroyed to manufacture those products. There simply has to be a better way to access food. Especially in New Mexico, where land-based cultures have been architecting an abundance of food within their ecosystems, for thousands of years. Some preliminary investigations lead me to Project Feed the Hood, a food literacy and community gardening initiative of the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) that aims to improve community health through education and revival of traditional growing methods...focused on low-income communities in Albuquerque"(Project Feed the Hood | About Us). After interning at the urban farm, I started to understand the power of their methodology: free, local, food cultivation, steeped in an area's history, can be a really powerful way to increase food security. The city had been working with them to incorporate a Community Land Trust to start another garden somewhere else. My research question was simple: where's the next garden needed most? Where is food insecurity most prevalent in Albuquerque? And where is access to emergency meals most scarce? The result is a spatial analysis of all of ABQs food banks, food pantries, and community gardens in relation to Census data on households living under 50% of the poverty line...and a recommendation on census tracts where the new garden, or new pantry, is needed most.

What's the most memorable experience you've had at UNM libraries?

My most memorable experience in the UNM libraries was actually working on a group project - the back study room adorned in wooden bookshelf's, cozy artwork, and a sturdy wooden table in the center of the room. I remember finishing up a semester long project with my group in that room, very grateful to have worked with them, learned from them, and even celebrated my birthday with them! I appreciate the library as a place to congregate and share knowledge.

Without the library...

I have no idea where we might find a place to get together for a group project. All jokes. Obviously, there are plenty of nice places to gather but the Arts and Design Library is definitely my favorite.

What's something you really wish you could say to the UNM library?

Thank you for all your help! The librarians have helped me immensely with my research and it goes a long way toward my accomplishments, personal understandings, and worldview, and hopefully toward the opportunity's that open up in this field.

Did anyone give you advice about the UNM library that was useful?

When I was an El Puente Fellow (2019-2020), the library staff held a workshop that taught us how to use library resources for research. Did you know that your student status gives you access to 504 databases, ranging from literary archives to modern encyclopedias, available through a single click on the library homepage? You can also reserve a quiet study room for yourself and your classmates, borrow materials from other universities through the InterLibrary Loan, and access Adobe products! Leveraging these resources was pivotal for a range of coursework, scholarships, and research work as an interdisciplinary scholar. Now, as a recent alum, I miss many of the resources that were once available to me as a student!

Have you given advice to anyone else about using a UNM library?

I will now: use the library resources as much as possible, while you still can! I love libraries, and the libraries at UNM are something special. Did you know about the Jim and Mary Lois Hulsman scholarship award? Or the Special Collections library? Like Albuquerque, the UNM libraries are full of hidden gems. I encourage everyone to use and support the UNM libraries.

Has there been an assignment or project of which you are proud, that helped you discover something about a UNM library or its materials? What did you discover?

A final paper through the Honors College led me to win 2nd-place in the Jim and Mary Lois Hulsman award. Not only did the scholarship money help me pay for school, but the recognition also validated and alleviated the weight of a lived experience that greatly impacted my undergraduate career. I'm grateful to have learned about this opportunity and am excited to read about the winners every year. Congratulations to the 2025 Hulsman recipients - keep contributing your lived experiences and observations to the greater academic community!

What's the most memorable library experience you've had at UNM libraries?

My most memorable experience at UNM libraries is simple: studying in the library! As a freshman, I loved the beautiful architecture and student activity throughout Zimmerman. When I leaned into technical coursework mid-career, I was drawn to the underground Centennial library. Finally, as a senior, I loved early morning study sessions with the Sandia Mountains in full view from the top floor of the Fine Arts & Design Library.

What's something you really wish you could say to the UNM library?

Thank you for what you do for the UNM and greater community! (P.S. Are there workshops for UNM alum to utilize library resources? I'll be first in line!)

Is there anything else you want to share?

Kudos to the team leading the Menstrual Equity Pilot Project - I hope it's a great success!