May-Crane Fellowships are designed to encourage undergraduate engagement with Harvard Library and to help advance the careers of graduate students. Fellows partner with librarian and archivist mentors to work on projects in a range of areas, from collections to preservation to research, teaching and learning.
Widener Library Discovery Center Project
Widener Library is an iconic institution within Harvard’s extensive library system, serving as a central hub for academic research and inquiry. The forthcoming Discovery Center, set to open in 2026, will highlight Harvard Library's unique collections and resources in a publicly accessible space for the university community, neighbors, and visitors. Two fellowships have been awarded to lay the groundwork for the Center's opening.
Tibah Abid, Computational Neuroscience and Economics (Summer 2025 Fellow)
Library Mentor: Anne-Marie Eze
As the Widener Discovery Center moves towards its 2026 opening, engaging the general public becomes vital to its success. Tibah's project was split into two core components: information-gathering to inform the Discovery Center's strategies around public engagement, and a report on recommendations. On the information-gathering side, Tibah conducted surveys with students on their awareness of library resources and services, completed a landscape review on existing engagement strategies both at Harvard as well as at peer institutions, participated in the Library's tours, and collaborated with the Harvard College tour guides to understand how the library is perceived by potential future students. The final report summarized these findings into three main recommendation areas: engagement infrastructure, a feedback ecosystem, and sustainability and growth.
Shakya Vibhor Maurya, Master of Divinity (Fall 2025 Fellow)
Library Mentor: Anne-Marie Eze
Building on Tibah Abid's work from the summer, Shakya will lay the groundwork for effective student engagement. Project work will focus on analyzing existing data and consulting with library staff and Harvard faculty to develop informed recommendations that form the basis of a strategic engagement plan. This plan will ensure the Discovery Center becomes a vibrant and integral part of the student academic experience at Harvard. Additionally, Shakya will design surveys and focus group frameworks, preparing for implementation in the 2025-2026 academic year to gain a detailed understanding of student needs and interests.