For more than 14 years, Lynn Lasota has been a part of the University at Buffalo, working across departments and honing her skills in special collections. Her current role as special collections assistant allows her to combine her passion for arts, local history, research, and organization, helping her colleagues ensure that UB’s rare and archival materials remain accessible to researchers and well-preserved for future generations.
She initially pursued a career in journalism, earning her undergraduate degree in communications from Buffalo State College. However, breaking into the field proved challenging, leading her to explore other interests. Photography quickly became a creative outlet for Lynn, guiding her toward UB’s Media Studies and Arts Management programs. A pivotal moment came when she learned about an archive of particular interest in UB’s Poetry Collection. “I heard about the Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center archive in the Poetry Collection, and that was the lightbulb moment for me,” she said. “I entered UB’s MLIS program with a focus on special collections and knew that was the final piece to my educational puzzle.”
Lynn started her UB career as an office assistant in the Department of Economics, followed by nine years as Finance & Operations Manager at UB Art Galleries. While neither role directly involved library work, both provided valuable experiences that shaped her approach to organization and system efficiency. When the opportunity arose to return to special collections, she embraced it, and for the past two and a half years, she has been immersed in the work she loves.
In her current role, Lynn manages the Special Collections Reading Room, ensuring smooth visits for researchers and helping facilitate access to unique materials across the Poetry Collection, Rare & Special Books, and University Archives. She also plays a key role in preserving and promoting UB’s collections, providing instruction to researchers on handling materials with care and encouraging visitors to explore treasures on view in the Reading Room. “I most enjoy seeing what piques our patrons’ interests and learning more about our collections through their eyes. We have an incredible array of resources across our collections – more than anyone could hope to discover and research on their own,” she explains.
Recently, Lynn has been working on descriptive processing for the University Archives’ collection of Student Life Posters, a project she finds both fascinating and visually striking. She hopes to curate an exhibit showcasing these posters, offering a look into years of student engagement and activism at UB. “The University Archives’ collection of Student Life Posters spans from the early 1960s to about 2015, covering social events, student clubs, sports, guest speakers, performance and art, student government, and political action. It has been a fascinating glimpse into student life over the decades, and some of the posters are aesthetically incredibly beautiful,” she said.
Outside of work, Lynn enjoys photography and a range of artistic pursuits, including screen-printing and fabric dyeing. She also has an undeniable connection to water, often seeking out lakes, rivers, and waterfalls for inspiration. She loves taking long drives along Lake Erie, visiting Niagara Falls, and exploring the Finger Lakes—always with a camera in hand.
Lynn grew up in the Buffalo area as one of seven siblings in a large, close-knit family. She also cherishes spending time with her six great-nieces, who range in age from 3 to 13. Their creativity and humor serve as a wonderful reminder of the importance of play and imagination. Additionally, she comes from an impressively large extended family, with 48 first cousins—a fact that was a point of pride growing up.
Whether at work or in her personal life, Lynn brings a keen eye for detail, a love of community and the arts, and a dedication to preserving and sharing stories with others.
Below, you’ll find examples of Lynn’s stunning photography. Click on any image to enlarge.
