Elevating the voices of our community: Creating an exhibition and public programs model that celebrates connection and culture

The core service model of a University Library – provision and support of scholarly information – is enduring and universal. Yet a global shift is underway towards adopting engagement driven models of service that put community, connection, culture, and belonging at the heart of everything the University Library has to offer. In 2022, Deakin University Library launched a new strategic plan built upon a major co-design project that sought to illuminate the foundational values of its community. The key themes to emerge from this co-design process were community, connection, the importance of place, and the sharing and celebration of knowledge. In the context of these community values, the Deakin Library Exhibitions and Public Programs model was developed. This new initiative does not simply aim to showcase and highlight Library collections through exhibitions and events. Rather, it seeks to create meaningful experiences that bridge education and research through building a creative platform that communicates, explores, and questions the ideas that shape the University. Key to this model is the generation of new connections and collaborations which elevate the voices of the community. This paper details how this new service model is helping to create new ways of knowledge expression, and new ways for spirits and voices to be uplifted.