A Message from the University Librarian
Julie Mosbo Ballestro, University Librarian & Assistant Provost
2025 proved to be a year of innovation at Texas A&M University Libraries, and we’re not slowing down.
Significant improvements have taken place in 2025 thanks to support from university leadership and donors that benefited the many scholars who depend on our University Libraries.
The result? There are more librarians and librarian professionals who increased service offerings and met the needs of students, faculty and staff who depend on us every day.
As the leader of a forward-thinking organization, I am thankful that 2026 — Texas A&M’s 150th year — is positioned to be a year of celebration and further innovation. Almost every employee in every organization and industry is faced with the same question — are we AI-ready?
We aren’t waiting for the answer.
The Next Generation of Libraries
We’ve already embraced AI. Early results are extremely promising.
AI professional development resulted in real-world applications that transformed our efficiency and enhanced our capabilities. We’re developing AI “agents” to focus on specific tasks. Our Medical Sciences Library has used large language models to help pharmacy students with patient conversations. We’ve also offered multiple workshops that prepare scholars for potential AI ethical pitfalls.
I believe there is no group better positioned to navigate a prompt-filled AI world more effectively than library staff. Today’s information age is chaotic. Librarians clean up the chaos by transforming massive amounts of disjointed data into targeted information for scholars.
Saving Money, Serving You & Earning Honors
This year, we expanded the Libraries’ OpenEd office that develops low- to no-cost textbook and course materials for students with support from the Office of the Provost and the Texas A&M University System.
From fall 2024 to fall 2025, OpenEd helped Aggie students save $4.3 million in textbook costs through the use of open education materials.
As if that wasn’t enough, the office created the Texas A&M University Libraries System Open Digital Publishing platform to help make publishing simpler and more cost effective for the A&M System's 12 member institutions.
Speaking of open publishing, the Libraries hosted the inaugural Open Access Awards in October to recognize two Aggie scholars’ innovative use of open access in their research and teaching. The evening’s keynote speech examined the evolving role of open and ethical knowledge practices at land-grant universities.
Achieving Widespread Success
It was yet another exciting year at Cushing Memorial Library & Archives, which hosted landmark exhibitions and numerous pop-up exhibits that showcased its vast, renowned collections.
The stature of Cushing’s holdings grew even more with the announcement of a new collection — the literary papers, notes and memorabilia of Diana Gabaldon, author of “Outlander,” the massively popular historical science fiction, adventure-romance series.
Moving forward doesn’t mean we are forgetting our past. We excitedly brought back our map room this year to serve research into our vast world. Maps can now be accessed at Sterling C. Evans Library, Cushing and online at tx.ag/MapCollections.
In another nod to the past, our Business Library and Collaboration Commons returned to form when it welcomed back the name West Campus Library (WCL). Those who visit WCL and Evans Library can now study in popular, futuristic new study pods acquired thanks to generous gifts from the Friends of the Texas A&M University Libraries and The Hamill Foundation.
New Locations, New Services
Our Galveston library, the Jack K. Williams Library, expanded its service offerings this year thanks to new resources provided by joining our Libraries team in 2024. With support from the Friends of the Texas A&M University Libraries and the Galveston County Aggie Moms, the library recently established a collection on the TS Kennedy, a current training vessel of the United States Maritime Service.
To enhance the university’s cutting-edge research prowess, the Libraries are developing a high-impact discovery catalog with the Texas A&M Division of Research. The new tool will host curated research records, helping Aggie scholars meet federal funding and agency requirements. It will complement the increasingly popular Scholars@TAMU, a library-created research information management system that highlights researcher accomplishments.
In November, we excitedly opened a new Maker Zone on the second floor of Evans Library that is already serving Aggie creators. Future investment will transform the zone into a comprehensive training and innovation space, where dynamic ideas become reality. The discovery environment is designed to teach everyone how to be an entrepreneur.
Next fall, our Medical Sciences Library, with locations in six sites across Texas, is set to reach a major milestone with the grand opening of a new headquarters for MSL staff at a state-of-the-art facility at the Health Science Center in Bryan. The Libraries will retain the second floor at MSL’s current west campus location.
Texas A&M University Libraries are also continuing space planning to reimagine our library spaces for future generations. In the coming years, renovations will begin at Evans Library & Annex, the Medical Sciences Library and West Campus Library.
Texas A&M’s 150th year is poised to be the most innovative one yet for the Libraries.
I’m excited for what’s to come!
All the best,
Julie Mosbo Ballestro
University Librarian & Assistant Provost
Texas A&M University
