The opportunity to support the Utah State University community is what motivates the work of the Merrill-Cazier Library. As we look to the coming months, we are collaborating with our new President, Brad Mortensen, to make sure we are fully aligned with his vision, thinking about how the University Libraries contribute to student success and value (including career preparedness), research and discovery that focus on real world challenges, community and academic engagement across the state of Utah, and the promotion of civic mindedness. Each of these efforts builds upon the great tradition of research libraries supporting the land grant mission.
In this issue of Marginalia, I hope you enjoy reading more about the ways we are engaging our community, specifically supporting more than 400 student researchers through hosting the annual Student Research Symposium, welcoming the community into our building to learn more about the local history of the Brigham Young College, or supporting students through providing meaningful internship opportunities working with advanced technology in our Innovation Hub.
We are grateful for the support of our Friends, whose gifts, large and small, undergird the strength of our work; we look forward to deepening our relationship with you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out directly and I would be happy to discuss how you might contribute to the progress that is happening at the Merrill-Cazier Library.
Jennifer Duncan, Dean of Libraries
EMPLOYEES
Traci Hillyard
Senior Administrative Assistant
Traci Hillyard has been with Utah State University since 2015, serving as Senior Administrative Assistant for two deans before stepping into her current role as Dean Duncan’s Senior Administrative Assistant last December. Traci earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from USU—Go Aggies!
Outside of work, Traci enjoys crafting, reading, bingewatching television, and gardening. Whenever possible, she loves to travel and explore new places. Her bucket list of destinations is impressively long—and still growing.
Kelsey Richards Student Supervisor
Kelsey Richards recently joined Utah State University as the Access Services Student Coordinator. Prior to this role, she spent five years as Branch Manager of the Thayne Library in Star Valley, Wyoming. Kelsey earned her MLIS from the University of Southern Mississippi and loves supporting libraries and connecting with her community.
In her free time, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her husband, Kurt, their five children and son-in-law (ages 15–25), and two dogs. She loves reading, birding, traveling, visiting libraries, and getting outside whenever she can—especially in the sunshine.
Utah State Research Highlighted for
2026 Research Week
From April 6–10, the Merrill-Cazier Library served as a central hub for USU's largest Research Week yet—bringing together faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates through presentations, exhibits, symposia, and workshops celebrating the discovery at the heart of USU's land-grant mission.
The library hosted several signature events, including the Student Research Symposium, which featured more than 400 presenters representing every college and
department at USU, as well as the Research Summit for faculty and the Innovation Pathways event recognizing USU patent recipients.
The library also held workshops covering open access publishing, research data management, and AI prompting—areas where the library directly supports the university's research community. Research Week is a meaningful reminder of the library's role at the center of USU's research community.
Spring Friends Lecture:
Buffalo Bill and the Mormons
On March 25, the Friends of the USU Merrill-Cazier Library hosted historian Brent M. Rogers for a free public lecture exploring one of American history's more unexpected pairings. Drawing from his book Buffalo Bill and the Mormons, Rogers traced the evolving relationship between William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1846 through 1917.
Attendees learned how Cody, who began his stage career performing anti-Mormon dramas, gradually shifted from cultural antagonist to active recruiter of Latter-day Saint settlers in the Wyoming region surrounding Cody, Wyoming. Rogers wove together threads of cultural history to illuminate this surprising tale.
The event, held in Room 101 of Merrill-Cazier Library, drew community members and history enthusiasts for an evening of scholarship and conversation hosted by the Friends of the Library.
Student Innovation Hub Workers
Host Technology Workshops
Graduate Students Noha Ramadan and Sam Schmuhl, two of the student workers who oversee the operation of the library Innovation Hub, exemplify the kind of peerled learning that makes the Hub such a dynamic space.
In her recent podcasting workshop series, Noha guided attendees through the fundamentals of audio storytelling, covering scripting, recording, and minor editing. Her work highlights the growing importance of digital communication skills, giving students tools to share ideas, research, and creative work in accessible, engaging formats.
Similarly, Sam’s 3D printing workshop series introduced students to the possibilities of rapid prototyping and hands-on design. By walking participants through the process of finding and printing their own objects, he helped simplify a technology that is increasingly relevant across disciplines, from engineering to the arts.
What makes both workshops especially impactful is that they are student-led. Peers teaching peers fosters an approachable learning environment where experimentation feels encouraged and achievable. The skills Noha and Sam are teaching are not just technical competencies, but avenues for creativity, problemsolving, and innovation.
Noha Ramadan (top) and Sam Schmuhl (bottom) are two of the many student workers who help the Innovation Hub run smoothly.
Logan's Lost College Exhibit Explores the History and Legacy of the Brigham Young College
Opening April 23 at the Merrill-Cazier Library, Logan's Lost College: Remembering Brigham Young College 100 Years Later presents a curated look at the history and legacy of Logan's Brigham Young College (1877–1926). The exhibition follows the historical arc of the institution, from its founding in 1877 to its closure in 1926, an event marking its 100th anniversary this spring.
Drawing from the Library’s Special Collections & Archives, the exhibit brings together photographs, publications, correspondence, and institutional records
that trace BYC’s development, academic programs, student life, and its role in shaping education in northern Utah. The exhibit also examines the circumstances that led to the college’s discontinuation. Together, these materials offer visitors the chance to discover “Logan’s Lost College” and to consider both its educational legacy and the impact its closure had on the community.
The exhibit will be on display at the Merrill-Cazier Library through June 12th, 2026.
BYC Baseball Team, 1921
Valentine's Blind Date with a Book Event Pairs Students with Mystery Books
This Valentine’s Day, Merrill-Cazier library hosted its fourth annual Blind Date with a Book. Around one hundred books were wrapped, each attached to a bookmark with a description of the story inside. Students would take their selected book to the circulation desk, where the barcode number noted on the bottom of the bookmark would be used to check the book out. Then, students unwrap their book, revealing their "date."
The display was up for three days, during which all but two of the books were taken. For some library patrons, this event is the first time they’ve ever checked out a book from the library. From graphic novels to romances to classics, there was something for everyone. Blind Date with a Book is a great way to make students feel comfortable and excited about using the library, as well as interested in reading new books!
Friends of Merrill-Cazier Library
3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000
BECOME A FRIEND
of the library
Two ways to give: Visit library.usu.edu/support/friends
