As a student at UC Berkeley, Helen Kirkby was no stranger to the libraries.
Kirkby, who studied political science and history, remembers digging through the Free Speech Movement papers for a research project, poring over old newspaper articles on a microfiche reader, and studying medieval manuscripts from The Bancroft Library.
Morrison Library, tucked within Doe, was her “hidden gem” — a favorite place to visit between classes or catch up on work.
Trier Mortlock used the libraries in a slightly different way.
“If I’m being honest, when I came to the library, it was mostly an excuse to spend time with Helen,” said Mortlock, who studied mechanical engineering.
Kirkby and Mortlock’s love story unfolded as undergrads, having met at Crossroads dining hall during their first year.
After graduating from Cal in 2018, Kirkby and Mortlock moved to Southern California. But when it came time to plan a marriage proposal, Mortlock knew it had to be in Berkeley.