Library Programming and Services Brochure (PDF)
A Culture of Care
Read Smith’s UPDATED plans as of August 5, 2020,
for an entirely remote fall 2020 semester.
The New Neilson Library
A Destination College Deserves a Destination Library
Since it opened in 1909, Neilson Library has been the academic heart of Smith College. We have now embarked on Neilson’s next phase—a comprehensive renovation that will transform our library into a technology-infused hub filled with active learning areas, the right balance of print and digital resources, and flexible spaces that support the entrepreneurial spirit of our students.
The renovation will feature two new wings, dubbed “jewel boxes” by Maya Lin. The new south wing will bring together special collections—the Sophia Smith Collection, Rare Books and College Archives—creating one-stop access to these important, rich materials and the staff who study and care for them. The new north wing will be filled with spaces to support active learning and scholarship, entrepreneurship and innovation. It will also include a cafe and digital media hub that will bring the community together. Altogether the project will focus on natural light, an energy-efficient design, cutting-edge technology and flexible, collaborative work spaces.
Our vision is bold. We must be ambitious in order to meet the needs and expectations of students and scholars today and into the future.
Why I Give
“This is a proud moment for Smith and an incredible opportunity for all of us as a community to put our support behind a project that will transform the campus in profound ways, showcasing once again how Smith is committed to providing a one-of-a-kind educational experience for women. I only wish I could start my own four years over again once the new library is completed!”
—Madeleine Fackler ’80, trustee and co-chair, President’s Library Roundtable (shown below at right)
Ground was officially broken for the new Neilson Library Thursday, October 19, 2017. Left to right: Susan Fliss, dean of libraries; Deborah L. Duncan ’77, chair of the Board of Trustees; Maya Lin, architectural designer; Kathleen McCartney, president; Katherine Rowe, provost and dean of the faculty; and Madeleine Fackler ’80, trustee and co-chair of the President’s Library Roundtable.
“Maya Lin’s vision for the old Carnegie-funded library is magnificent. Her plan to use light and glass and elements of nature brings drama and 21st-century imagination to the project. Reading nooks that can be reconfigured for solitary study or collaborative work and special spaces for meeting with friends or perusing a book on one’s own will make the new Neilson more user friendly in the manner students want and expect today. But most of all the new Neilson will be a destination for students, faculty, alumnae and the community because of its extraordinary architecture and landscape. Brava the reimagining of Neilson Library!”
—Lile Rasmuson Gibbons ’64, co-chair, President’s Library Roundtable
“As a loyal supporter of Smith for over 60 years and a lover of libraries, it gives my family great joy to invest in Smith’s future—the reimagining of Neilson Library.”
—Pat Klingenstein ’51
Philanthropic Support
Transforming a century-old library into a modern, multifunctional teaching and learning center requires great vision, ambition and philanthropic support.
Neilson Renovation Giving Opportunities
The $120 million renovation of Neilson presents an exciting, once-in-a-generation opportunity for alumnae, parents and friends of Smith to partner with the college.
- Gifts of $250,000 or more will be recognized with an individual naming opportunity.
- Gifts of $100,000 or more will be included in a community recognition display.
- Gifts can also be directed through the Smith Fund: Resourceful Smith designation.
Programming Initiatives & Services Giving Opportunities
Smith College Libraries are developing state-of-the-art programs and servies that will transform teaching, learning and research at Smith.
- Endowed Funds: Gifts of $250,000 or more will generate income toward a designated libraries fund and place the donor's choice of name on that endowement in perpetuity. See pdf above for fund details.
- Annual Giving: Gifts of any amount can support the libraries through The Smith Fund's Resourceful Smith designation. Certain programs can be supported directly by gifts of $50,000 or more.
- Planned Gifts: These gifts include those created through a will, living trust, retirement plan and more. Some tools such as gift annuities create an income streat to the donor or a designee. Funds start at $250,000. Please inquire.
Learn More
For opportunities to support the library, contact:
Betsy Carpenter ’93
Associate Vice President of Development
413-585-2052
ewcarpen@smith.edu
Resources
For more information and updates on the project, visit the libraries’ website.
