Ours to Uphold: Understanding Constitutional Rights
Join us for a series of events celebrating free speech and understanding of the US Constitution.
Freedom of the Press and Student Journalism: a panel discussion
Wednesday, October 8, 3:30-5PM
Location: CMU 226
Campus newsrooms are on the front lines of battles over free expression. Join us for a panel that brings together student journalists, legal experts and university faculty to discuss the legal rights, ethical responsibilities and practical realities facing student journalists today.
20th Annual US Constitution Reading
Thursday, October 9, 3-5PM
Location: Allen Library, North Lobby
Join your fellow students, faculty, community members and distinguished guests for the 20th annual US Constitution Reading! Open to all–instructors are encouraged to bring their classes, and staff and members of the public are welcome to attend and participate with friends, family, and coworkers! .
EXHIBIT: Right to Read: Banned books and the First Amendment
September 17 – December 12
Location: Ground floor, Suzzallo Library
Our first amendment right protects our freedom of speech, but what about our freedom to read? The exhibit Right To Read: Banned books and the First Amendment discusses the complex nature of banned books in the United States.
Community Events
NEW SPACE: Health Sciences Library Commons
Open House/Tours, October 16, 11AM-1PM – Stop by and explore the newly renovated HSL Commons! Walk through this beautiful new space with areas for study, collaboration and relaxation, in addition to a remodeled testing center with multiple technology-rich classrooms open for reservations.
Two tours start at 11:30 and 12:30, light refreshments/snacks on hand.
First Wednesday Concert Series, Allen Library
October 1, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Students of the UW School of Music perform in this lunchtime concert series co-hosted by UW Music and UW Libraries.
Tadoku Club, Tateuchi East Asia Library
Every Thursday, 2 – 3 PM
Tadoku Club is a reading group for Japanese language learners of all levels. Participants choose books at their own level from the “easy reads” collection and enjoy reading independently in a supportive environment. The club offers a relaxed setting to build confidence, improve reading skills, and share the joy of reading with others.
New Exhibits
The Mountain is Out – Through Friday, Aug 28, 2026
Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level)
Rainier, Tahoma, Nutselip… the mountain is known by many names. A Pacific Northwest icon, Mount Rainier holds a unique place in the region’s culture and lore. Its massive peak is the dominant land form on the horizon for more than a hundred miles in any direction, rising far above the surrounding Cascade Mountains. Beginning in the late 19th century, European and American visitors explored the area, and activism led to the establishment of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899.
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From Brush to Type: The Evolution of Bookmaking in East Asia – Through Mar 31, 2026
Gowen Hall (GWN)
This exhibit highlights rare works from the Tateuchi East Asia Library Special Collections, showcasing how innovations in papermaking, printing, and design across East Asia transformed the form of books and the cultures they shaped.
WORKSHOP – Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, 3:30 – 5 p.m. Based on the Tateuchi East Asia Library’s fall special collections exhibit curated by our librarians, this workshop offers a rare, close-up look at manuscripts, woodblock prints, and movable type books. Participants will explore the techniques and innovations that shaped book culture in China, Japan, and Korea.
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Perpetuate – Oct 1 – Friday, Nov 7
Allen Library (ALB)
“Perpetuate” is an installation by artist Lucia Hwang that explores the persistence of human history and memory through the lens of discarded media and ancient symbolism. Constructed using recycled CDs and VHS tapes—once powerful tools of documentation and storytelling.