July is shaping up to be an exciting month as the University Libraries partners with Artown, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), award-winning Nevada author and humorist Michael Branch and Closer to the Land: Environment and Ecology of Nevada exhibit curator Edan Strekal.

We look forward to welcoming you, members of our community, as we host two Artown events on Saturday, July 27 at the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. Both events are free and open to members of the campus and northern Nevada community. For more information on these events, please visit Eventbrite.com and search "Closer to the Land."

Closer to the Land is currently on display outside of Special Collections and University Archives located on the third floor of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. The exhibit features written and visual materials regarding Nevada's diverse landscapes and wildlife populations from Special Collections and University Archives' extensive holdings of environmental collections. Additionally, it features several three-dimensional objects including skulls, specimens, and taxidermied mounts from the University of Nevada, Reno Museum of Natural History.

The exhibit focuses on the contrasting environments found in Nevada and the Great Basin, and the relationship of the environment to its living inhabitants including humans, animals, and plants. The beauty and diversity of Nevada has been described as one the nation's best kept secrets. Rather than a "wasteland," Nevada is a place ripe with beauty and life hidden in the seemingly desolate landscape.

Closer to the Land: Signs of Wildlife on the Trail

July 27
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center Wells Fargo Auditorium and Whittemore Gallery

This event is presented in partnership with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. It is an all-ages, kids-to-seniors, family-friendly event. Event attendees will be able to interact with live animal specimens including a gopher snake and other animals. NDOW will also have a variety of taxidermied mounts on display that will include animals and plants that live in Nevada's diverse landscapes such as the American Beaver and the American Badger. Tour the exhibit, learn about contrasting environment with its living inhabitants including humans, animals, and plants.

An Evening with Michael Branch and Edan Strekal

July 27
6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center's Leonard Reading Room, 4th floor (MIKC 422)

Plan to laugh as Michael Branch shares his unique musing and writings on life in the western Great Basin Desert. Following the reading, join the exhibit's Chief Curator Edan Strekal for a guided tour. The limited seating event will take place inside the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center's Leonard Reading Room located on the 4th floor (MIKC 422) of the building.

For more information please contact Robin Monteith, University Libraries' associate director of development, via email at robinmonteith@unr.edu, or by phone at 775-682-5656.

To reserve your spot for either event, please visit Eventbrite.com and search "Closer to the Land."