Each of the three libraries at Binghamton University — Glenn G. Bartle Library, the Science Library and the library in the University Downtown Center — have added special exhibits to expand the resources that each of the locations provide.

An exhibits committee was formed consisting of 14 members with specializations in different departments. They gathered old books, artifacts and current student work in order to put together the exhibits, which have different themes.

Bartle Library hosts “Illuminated Lifestyles: Food, Sport and Books in Medieval Life,” which features a 3-D touch point that informs students about images of different manuscripts and their content. Next to this is the “From Aesop to Joachim: the Medieval and the Early Modern of Facsimiles Special Collections” exhibit. A facsimile is an exact copy of something, usually a written or printed material, and the exhibit includes a collection of facsimile illustrated codices, scrolls and printed works from Europe and Asia.

Kristen Gallant, a librarian and one of the members of the libraries’ exhibit committee, was one of the creators of “Illuminated Lifestyles.” She said that she hopes the palpability of the piece invokes curiosity for students to learn more about medieval art.

“A large portion of scholarly work around library and museum exhibits is about virtual exhibits online,” Gallant said. “I happen to love that our exhibit is tangible; it’s meant to be interacted with in person. It’s been the committee’s hope that this exhibit will inspire curiosity about the Middle Ages and get our students into the stacks to learn more about it.”

The Science Library is home to the “Animals of the Land and Sea” exhibit, located on the first floor of the Science Library in the Information Commons. It features books and collections that coincide with the research and curriculum in the biology department, primarily within the areas of animal behavior and ecology, spanning from zebras to amphibians.

Andrea Melione, a librarian and the chair of the exhibits committee, said she hopes students will be educated about some of the wonders of the world, regardless of major.

“We enjoy this extension of our regular jobs because it means we can foster excitement about the libraries’ collections across disciplines on campus,” Melione said. “Maybe an art student will get inspired by something they read in our ‘Animals of Land and Sea’ exhibit at the Science Library.”

The University Downtown Center holds the “Sustainability: What Can I Do?” collection which provides books and materials which can be taken out. The exhibit features information on electric cars, solar power and clean water, with the idea that it will provide students with information about how to better take care of the earth.

Curtis Kendrick, the dean of libraries, said that conveying the type of community the University fosters was important when it came to the creation of the pieces.

“Our Libraries’ exhibits engage visitors in learning about topics of importance to the Binghamton University community,” Kendrick wrote in an email. “The visually appealing and informative displays showcase our extensive research collections and library services in support of our mission to enhance learning, teaching and research on campus.”