Hello! Annie Hoffman here, Student Journalist for the libraries. Monday was my last day of class for the semester. On to finals! Here’s what else I’ve been up to.

Zoom backgrounds from the Libraries

At the moment, Zoom is one of my most important tools for connecting with the people I care about. The University Libraries has pulled images from the archives and other locations to create almost 100 Zoom backgrounds to make any virtual gathering more fun.

My personal favorites from this collection are the room from Goodnight Moon, the lobby of Wilson Library, and the vintage poster that encourages me to “Shake Hands often with Soap.”

Sharing plant knowledge

My neighbors found a fun way to share their plant knowledge with passersby. They labelled all of their plants that grow close to the sidewalk, even this tiny volunteer elm tree! Teaching and learning endure even as we work from home, and even as the semester draws to a close.

I am not the only one blogging through the current moment! I have been reading the work of Justin Smith, an advocate for the disability community and my old friend.

Justin writes about books, music, writing, and creating more choices for people with disabilities.

By this time next week, I will be completely finished with the semester! That feels hard to believe. Stay home, stay healthy, and keep reading!

—Annie Hoffman