In the summer of 2024, Dr. Buffy Edwards and Kaydee Dyer along with 19 students participated in the SLIS Italy study abroad. The Libraries, Archives, and Museums program provided a learning experience that took students on a journey through Italy to not only explore ancient archives, museums, and libraries, but also provide them the opportunity to be immersed in the rich Italian culture. From the Vatican in Rome, to the Galileo Museum in Florence, and the tranquil setting in Arezzo; students in the program had the opportunity to engage with ancient traditional manuscripts and experience digital museum exhibits, which provide a historical perspective and evolution of information - a wide range demonstrating where we started and where we are going in the field of museum studies and library studies. A Study Abroad Program provides much more than an educational experience, it is a lesson in life!
A 2024 Study Abroad student shared: “I wanted to give you an update on my career. The summer program in Italy has opened so many doors for me. I am currently working at a small Native American museum as their education coordinator. It is wonderful and I also started an internship with the National Park Service working with their collections. Just wanted to extend my gratitude for all you have done”.
The program provided many awe-inspiring experiences, some with emotional reactions, while others felt moved by the profound history stored inside the walls of sites visited. Some highlights were the Laurentian Medici Library in Florence, the Arezzo Public Library, the Duomo Museum in Florence, the Colosseum and Vatican Museums in Rome. The Arezzo Public Library building is 800 years old, it serves as both a public library and an archive and could be classified as a museum itself, while the Laurentian Medici Library, designed by Michelangelo and originally restricted to use by males, many of which were famous philosophers, was a work of art and a site that provided a calmness, and then of course, the shear wonder of the Colosseum. The study abroad experience is unlike any other, as participants of this program were able to work with a local museum and collection during their time in Arezzo. This provides experiential learning regarding how museums and exhibits are managed in Italy versus the United States and authentic application of learning.
Along with the academics, there is certainly no short supply of fun, as students get to visit a vineyard to see how wine is made and produced, as well as, attend a pasta-making class as a part of their cultural activities. This program strives to prepare students for the professional world while giving them a global transformative learning experience they will remember for a lifetime. While this program was initially built for graduate students in the respective programs, we’ve seen great success with undergraduates participating in this program and have even seen a few students pursue a Master of Library and Information Studies upon completion of their undergraduate degree. SLIS is pleased to share that the study abroad is being offered again in summer 2025!
