Morrison Library

Ashley Taylor

Film and Media, Creative Writing, 2026

Q: Tell us about yourself.

“While I was born in San Diego, CA, I was raised in Mexico before I eventually moved back across the border for my education. English is my second language, and I learned it through books and movies. Since then, I’ve had a passion for sharing book recommendations, including those outside my preferred genres(romance and fantasy), when I worked as a Barnes & Noble Bookseller. I currently run UC Berkeley’s romance book club–Love Stories Book Club– where we’ve built a romance community and host social events for readers of all kinds. After I graduate, I hope to continue by either working directly in the book publishing industry or helping to adapt some of my favorite novels into film or TV.”

Q: How did you experience interning as a curator for Morrison Library?

“As a student who has always relied on libraries when I couldn’t afford new books, this internship was an amazing opportunity to be a part of the book curating process. I’ve always admired the elegant beauty and comfort of Morrison library with it’s range of fiction new releases.

During our first library meeting, we got to meet the staff and learn the history of the library. By far the most interesting part was learning about how they decide which books to keep by keeping track of how many times a title has circulated. Unlike other public libraries, Morrison doesn’t need to have multiple copies of the same book or older titles. Instead they only keep super popular ones like The Goldfinch and are constantly processing newly published books.

In Fall 2025, a small cohort of UC Berkeley students served as inaugural Undergraduate Curators in a new internship from Morrison Library. They met with Morrison Library staff and visited local bookstores to curate a set of selections for the library’s collection. Interns were tasked with reflecting on their experience and sharing their selected titles. Read on to hear from Maya Looney about her experience and see her list of recommendations. Be sure to check out Ashley Taylor’s recommendations, too. Find your next read by seeing Maya’s and Ashley’s books now on display in Morrison Library!

Undergraduate Curators sit at a table in Morrison Library with Morrison staff discussing the internship and what goes into curating a library collection. — Abby Scheel, right, leads the first meeting of an undergraduate student internship based in Morrison Library on Oct. 14, 2025. Three interns will help select books for the Morrison collection. (Photo by Jami Smith/UC Berkeley Library)

Maya Looney

Astrophysics & Planetary Sciences, 2026

Q: Tell us about yourself.

“Hi I’m Maya, I’m in my final year at Berkeley and I do research on planetary interiors and melting permafrost. I grew up in Oakland and outside of school I work as a visual artist for low income housing projects there. I try to read as much as I can and I love reading sci-fi, literary fiction (when I get tired of space stuff) and poetry, especially from Bay Area writers.”

Q: How did you experience interning as a curator for Morrison Library?

“In my time as a curator intern at Morrison Library I’ve really enjoyed learning more about both the Berkeley library system and visiting my favorite local bookstores to find new additions. Taking the time to learn more about the Morrison collection and the considerations that go into the Berkeley library catalogue has changed the way I walk through a library. I love thinking about the ‘lifetimes’ of books I pick up, from why they were selected to how much they’ve circulated and how many times they’ve been read. Doing visits to Moe’s Books and East Bay Booksellers has also been personally exciting for me, beyond learning more about the different considerations they have to make about their selections, because I’ve been going to those stores since I was little and growing up in Oakland. Hearing about the inner workings and the highs and lows behind the scenes of being an independent bookstore owner has made me appreciate these community spaces. It reminded me that the books on their shelves aren’t just inventory – they’re the result of constant, thoughtful curation, risk-taking, and love for readers. This internship has made me more attentive to the stories behind how books travel through the world, and it’s deepened my connection to the literary spaces that shaped me. It’s been meaningful to feel like I’m contributing, even in a small way, to the future of those spaces and to the experiences of readers who will discover something new because of the work we’ve done.”

Continue reading “Morrison Library Undergraduate Curator: Maya Looney”