Shields Library International Open House: Wednesday, Nov. 19

The UC Davis Library and Global Affairs will co-host an International Open House at Shields Library on Wednesday, Nov. 19, as a way to make students feel welcome and raise awareness of the academic resources available to them.

The event will include tours of Shields Library in English, Mandarin and Spanish — the three languages most commonly spoken on campus — along with an opportunity to meet librarians, explore resource tables hosted by library and campus departments that support student success, and browse books in more than a dozen languages.

“We recognize that a university library can be intimidating, and many students feel like they don’t know where to begin when they walk through our doors. That’s why we’re committed to making sure Shields Library is a welcoming place for all Aggies, no matter what their background is or what level of experience they bring with libraries and academic research,” said University Librarian and Vice Provost of Digital Scholarship William Garrity. “Wherever you’re from, we want every student to know you belong here.”

The idea for the International Open House began at a campus IDARE Summit, when members of the IDARE committees from the Library and Global Affairs were seated at the same table. During discussions, the group came up with the concept of an open house after talking about how the library is open to all, but that some students might benefit from a specific invitation in order to find their way to the resources they need.

The group successfully applied for an IDARE Vision Grant from the Office of Inclusive Excellence — small grants designed to fund cross-departmental partnerships that align with UC Davis’ commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus environment — which got the project off the ground.

“As a former international doctoral student, I can tell you firsthand how important it is for students, especially those far from home, to find a sense of belonging on campus. Knowing how to access support is one of the first steps, and it can make all the difference in a student’s ability to achieve their goals,” said Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of Global Affairs. “With the Shields Library International Open House, we hope to help empower both domestic and international students to navigate their academic journeys at UC Davis with confidence.