The Marian Library has spread holiday joy around campus and the Dayton area by loaning Nativity sets for public display in UD’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception and Curran Place, as well as the Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning in Beavercreek and the St. Leonard campus in Centerville. The selected Nativities are an extension of the Christmas exhibition at the Library, Seeking Shelter: Beyond the Stable, and explore the different shelters where artists from around the world set the Nativity scene. After seeing the main exhibit on Roesch Library’s first and seventh floors, stop by these other locations to extend your exhibit experience.
The Marian Library’s on-campus Nativity loan program provided nearly 50 University departments with Nativities to display in their office spaces during Advent and Christmas. These Nativities help spread Christmas cheer and connect the campus community with UD’s Marianist identity. One borrower in 2024 expressed, “We loved having a little piece of the Crèche Collection on display in our office — especially since we are ‘off campus’ (Curran Place) and don’t get to see many of the beautiful decorations on campus during the Christmas season.”
— Nicole Burkett is an art collection specialist in the Marian Library.
