Staff Spotlight: Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler

Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler

Exhibits Coordinator

Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler is the Exhibits Coordinator for the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries. This role includes planning, directing, and organizing an active exhibition program designed to share, interpret, and promote the Libraries’ collections.

So what does an Exhibits Coordinator do?

I schedule, organize, and plan the majority of the Libraries’ exhibitions. I work with collection managers and curators throughout the Smathers Libraries to develop exhibition themes, select items, and provide scholarly interpretation of materials. This means that 1-3 years before an exhibition ever opens, I am planning the space, designing publicity materials, helping to edit content, and researching copyright for any items to be included. When it is finally time for

installation, I install the items with the help of the curator and suggests any last minute edits. See the typical timeline for an exhibition.

Where can we see these exhibitions?

There are currently six Library buildings which host exhibitions, but the varied collections sometimes are also on view throughout campus and the country. I coordinate these outside loans as well.

I also oversee the Libraries’ online exhibitions. Similar to the physical exhibitions, I work with the curator to develop content. Working closely with the IT department, I also create most of the online exhibitions. The online exhibitions may be online only, an excerpt from the physical exhibition, a supplement to the physical exhibition or an online version of the complete physical exhibition.

How can I find out more about Library exhibitions?

Additionally, I maintain the Exhibits Website. Here you can find information regarding the exhibition programs, current, upcoming, and past exhibits, as well as exhibit news.

For even more exhibition updates, follow Smathers Exhibits on Twitter @uflibexhibits.