Newsletter Edition: Spring 2025
In every corner of the world, there are individuals whose passion burns brighter than the challenges they face. These are the educators, activists, and community builders who see education not just as a system, but as a force for transformation — one that can rewrite narratives, break cycles, and spark a more inclusive future.
At the heart of their work lies a deep belief: education should reflect the richness of our diverse world. They understand that when students see themselves in the curriculum — in the books they read, the histories they learn, and the leaders they study — it sends an empowering message: you belong here.
At the heart of the University Library lies a shared commitment: to educate, preserve, and empower students through our collections, services, instruction, and programming in support of the mission of CSUN. Recent highlights from the Library’s eNews illustrate a powerful intersection of education, activism, and cultural preservation, offering rich reminders of how stories—both past and present—can shape our collective future.
Teaching Through Hidden Histories
In March, the Library welcomed Los Angeles-based author and educator Désirée Zamorano, whose newest historical fiction novel Dispossessed delves into overlooked Latinx histories. Drawing from her own work as a professor of linguistic and cultural diversity at CSU Long Beach, Zamorano emphasized the role educators play in bringing hidden narratives into the classroom. Her message was clear: diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t just academic concepts—they are essential tools for empowering the next generation of learners.
Her talk highlighted how storytelling can serve as activism, blending fiction with research to amplify voices often erased from mainstream historical accounts. From the mass repatriation of Mexican-American families in the 1930s to present-day ICE detention centers, Dispossessed embodies the power of literature to challenge, inform, and inspire.
A Rare Voice from the Past
This commitment to uncovering and preserving marginalized stories also came to life with the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center’s recent acquisition of a rare 1963 audio interview with Malcolm X. Donated by Fred Hardon, who conducted the interview as a young man in Los Angeles, the recording captures Malcolm X in a rare moment of reflection outside the public spotlight. It is now preserved in CSUN’s University Library, offering students and scholars an invaluable primary source to explore the evolution of one of the 20th century’s most pivotal figures. The interview complements the Bradley Center’s broader mission: to document and elevate the stories of underrepresented communities in Southern California, providing visual and oral histories that bridge past and present.
Empowerment Through Art and Education
The University Library recently mourned the loss of Rita Streimer, a beloved educator and textile artist who taught ESL and quilt making across Southern California. Her legacy is one of creativity and care, shaping lives through her commitment to adult education and the visual arts. Rita’s journey—from fine arts to quilting—symbolized a deep connection to cultural storytelling and artistic expression, often passed between generations. Rita was connected to CSUN not only through her psychology faculty husband, but also through her unwavering commitment to the University Library. As a member of the Friends of the Library since 2011, Rita also served as president for many years.
Meet Two Employees who Inspire
Behind the scenes, CSUN Library’s faculty and staff remain devoted to fostering student success through access, engagement, empowerment, and cultural preservation. Outreach Librarian Brianna Limas and Archivist Julieta Garcia are two such employees. Brianna champions library services and community engagement, while Julieta safeguards the very documents, photos, and recordings that tell the nuanced stories of our region. Both are inspired by students who come to use the Library and those who work in the Library. Their work represents a vital thread in the University’s mission to make knowledge accessible and meaningful for all and inspire future CSUN graduates and leaders in their fields.
I am proud of the University Library’s mission and strategic plan, guided by the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and accessibility. As the intellectual heart of the CSUN campus, the Library provides significant physical and virtual collections; welcoming and dynamic study and innovation spaces; engaging technology; transformative information literacy instruction; user-centered services; and thought-provoking and culturally relevant programming. Our library employees manifest these principles due to a shared commitment to the success of CSUN students, faculty, and staff, and the enrichment of the greater community.