Lehigh Library & Technology Services

What does “open” mean in an era of information abundance, AI, and declining public trust?

At the 2026 Lehigh Valley Open Knowledge Symposium, educators, librarians, researchers, and technologists from across the region gathered at Lehigh University to explore the opportunities and challenges surrounding open knowledge, from open access publishing and open educational resources to open-source software and institutional repositories.

Through keynote presentations, lightning talks, panel discussions, and collaborative conversations, participants examined how openness, stewardship, trust, and community shape the future of knowledge sharing.

Read the story at https://lts.lehigh.edu/news/lehigh-valley-open-knowledge-symposium-explores-stewardship-trust-and-future-open-framework

Sponsored by Lehigh University Libraries and the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC)

Faculty: have you written a new book? The Friends of the Lehigh University Libraries sponsor an annual celebration to honor faculty who have published a book in the previous academic year.

Please share your publication information at go.lehigh.edu/facultyauthors for any book, textbook, edited volume, or musical score you published between July 2025 and June 2026, to be recognized in Fall 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact Boaz Nadav Manes at [email protected].

The Lehigh University Libraries

Lifelong learners from the Hi Neighbors community program recently visited the LETs Lab to experience The Lehigh Gap Story, a virtual reality learning experience developed by Lehigh RiVR Immersive Learning, a cross-disciplinary research and development lab at Lehigh, led by Dr. Alec Bodzin, Professor in the Teaching, Learning, and Technology program in Lehigh’s College of Education. The session was supported by Stephen Sakasitz, CITL Emerging Technology Specialist; Tarah Cicero, ITS Manager of Academic Media Production Services; and students from Dr. Bodzin’s research team.

During the visit, participants explored watershed and environmental issues through immersive VR and heard from Dr. Bodzin, who leads the initiative behind the VR experience and its broader series of STEM-focused learning games.

The Hi Neighbors Speakers Program, designed for retired professionals engaged in their community and interested in lifelong learning, offers free weekly presentations on local culture, history, and current events. Individuals interested in participating can contact [email protected] for more information.

The LETs Lab is a collaboration between ITS and the Office of Arts & Libraries, created to promote engagement with emerging academic technologies.

Ready to level up your Zotero skills? Join us for a one-hour session exploring advanced features and the latest updates designed to make research and literature reviews more efficient.

🗓️ Tue, Jun 23
🕛 12:00 PM
💻 Via Zoom

💡 Learn about:
• Effective tagging, annotations, and note-taking
• Improvements to the Zotero browser extension, citation tools, and group libraries
• New built-in Text-to-Speech for PDFs, epubs, and webpage snapshots

Perfect for researchers, graduate students, and anyone looking to organize sources more effectively. Beginners are welcome, too!

Register for this or other Technology and Library Seminars at https://lts.lehigh.edu/lts-seminars

Participants stepped into the world of immersive learning yesterday during “Explore Immersive Learning in Curio” in the LETs Lab, led by Stephen Sakasitz, CITL Emerging Technology Specialist.

The session introduced Curio, a mixed reality platform designed for learning, building, research, and collaboration. Attendees explored how VR can support effective pedagogy through interactive, distraction-free learning environments, customizable instruction, AI-assisted coaching features, and user-created content. Steve demonstrated a virtual tutoring lesson that showcased Curio’s ability to bring instructors and learners together in shared digital spaces, where they can manipulate 3D objects, communicate in real time, and engage with content in new ways.

After a guided walkthrough of the platform, participants donned VR headsets and explored Curio firsthand, learning how to navigate virtual spaces, interact with educational content, collaborate in multiuser environments, and experiment with tools that support teaching and learning. The session highlighted the growing potential of immersive technologies to enhance learning experiences across disciplines at Lehigh.

Faculty and instructional staff interested in integrating immersive learning experiences into their courses are encouraged to contact Steve Sakasitz at [email protected] to explore pedagogical applications of Curio and other emerging technologies.

Ready to explore what's next in teaching, learning, and creativity? Sign up for our other LETs Lab Summer Sessions, a series of hands-on workshops designed to spark creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. RSVP at https://lts.lehigh.edu/2026-lets-lab-summer-sessions

The LETs Lab is a collaboration between ITS and the Office of Arts & Libraries, created to promote engagement with emerging academic technologies.

The Office of Educational Innovation and Assessment and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning invite Lehigh faculty and instructional staff of all levels to join the 2026 OEIA/CITL Summer Course Design Institute (CDI), a four-day faculty and instructional staff workshop focused on backward design, learning outcomes, assessment, and course development. The institute will take place in the Clayton University Center Monday, August 3 to Thursday, August 6 from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. each day.

Completed applications are due by Wednesday, July 1. Decisions will be shared by Friday, July 10.

The CDI creates a space for faculty and instructional staff of all departments to collaboratively revise and revitalize an existing course or design an entirely new course.

For details and to apply, visit https://lts.lehigh.edu/news/join-oeiacitl-summer-course-design-institute

🏳️‍🌈 Celebrate Pride Month with a great read! Explore Read with Pride, our featured OverDrive collection highlighting LGBTQIA+ nonfiction, memoirs, poetry, and fiction. Discover powerful stories, diverse voices, and inspiring perspectives in honor of Pride Month.

Browse the collection at go.lehigh.edu/pride

Ready to get creative this summer? Join CITL, the Academic Technology Team, and Digital Media Studio staff in the LETs Lab for a series of hands-on workshops designed to spark creativity, curiosity, and collaboration.

✨ This summer’s lineup includes:
• Immersive learning with Curio XR
• Collage + Canva flyer design
• Interactive storytelling with Twine
• Building 3D worlds in FrameVR
• Intro to drone piloting
• A campus photography walk with DMS staff

Whether you want to explore VR, create digital stories, fly drones, or sharpen your creative skills, there’s something for everyone.

📍 LETs Lab, Fairchild-Martindale Library (across from The Grind)
☕ Light refreshments provided
⚠️ Space is limited

Reserve your spot: go.lehigh.edu/letssummer

The LETs Lab is a collaboration between ITS and the Office of Arts & Libraries, created to promote engagement with emerging academic technologies.

Join us on Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. ET for Tech Talk for First Year Students and Families! Learn about Lehigh's computing and networking environment, our tech support, and get advice on personal device purchase and configuration from Library and Technology Services (LTS) computing and hardware specialists. Submit questions to go.lehigh.edu/asklts and we'll try to address them in the session. Register now at go.lehigh.edu/techtalk Hope to see you!

Fairchild-Martindale Library elevator renovations begin Monday, May 18 and are expected to continue through Friday, Aug. 7. The lobby elevator will be unavailable during this modernization project to improve reliability, safety, and long-term performance.

A second elevator will remain available through the 6th floor. Access to the 7th floor will require using the stairs between the 6th and 7th floors. If you need assistance retrieving materials from the 7th floor, please contact the Help Desk.

Please note: Fairchild-Martindale Library will also be CLOSED on Friday, May 22 due to excessive construction noise. Remote support will remain available during normal operating hours.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this important project. See full details at https://lts.lehigh.edu/news/fairchild-martindale-library-elevator-renovation-and-may-22-closure