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A Culture of Care

Read Smith’s plans for the fall 2021 semester.
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Neilson Library

Student sitting in a chair reading a magazine, while a group of students studies at a table in the background.

Pursue new ideas. Uncover history that has been overlooked. Work with classmates to create something original. Grab a cup of coffee with a professor to discuss a concept from class. Laugh with friends in the café as you work on a paper. Enjoy the view from the roof balcony while you collect your thoughts. You’re in Neilson Library, an intellectual meeting place at the heart of campus, and life is full of possibilities.

Discover the New Neilson

The Academic Heart of Campus

A Mission to Advance Learning and Discovery
The Neilson Library is designed to promote seamless access to knowledge. Explore what a library of the future looks like—now.

Design Innovation
When Karly Toledo ’21 got her first look inside the new Neilson Library, it immediately inspired lofty ideas. “The design just elevates your thinking,” she says.

Exceptional Library Services
Various forms of technology, easy access to the collections, and flexible spaces for both individual scholarship and collaboration are key tenets of what the library offers.

Photo of students studying at a table in the library.

“For all the media around them, the students are after quiet. ... They are seeking a place to escape, a sanctuary, a psychologically calming space.”
—Maya Lin

Where History Meets Modern Innovation

The completion of the library’s renovation in 2021 represents the next exciting chapter in the intellectual and architectural history of Smith. At the building’s core is the original 1909 facade, paying homage to the long history of learning that has taken place inside its walls. With the doors opening at an unprecedented time of a global pandemic, the library is a symbol of hope for the future. Architectural designer Maya Lin describes Neilson as “calmly natural,” “social but solitary” and “innovative but respectful of tradition.”

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“Smith is a destination college; our students deserve a destination library—and that is exactly what we’ve created. The new Neilson will fundamentally transform scholarship at Smith in ways we can only begin to imagine.”—Smith College President Kathleen McCartney 
(Photo by Nic Lehoux )

Wide interior shot of multiple levels of the library

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The Neilson Library has been at the heart not just of the campus but also of the educational experiences of generations of students, staff and faculty. The renovated building is a stunning architectural creation that honors the college’s history while expanding possibilities for the library as a hub of knowledge creation for generations to come.
(Photo by Nic Lehoux )

Students sitting on the ground, talking, overlooking another level of the library

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Today, library users want a place to connect formally and informally. Faculty and students value the moments that can occur while browsing the stacks or meeting people who are doing similar research and drawing on different perspectives that come from lively conversations.
(Photo by Nic Lehoux)

Student sitting at table, using a laptop

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Academic libraries of today are very different spaces than they were even 10 years ago. They are technology-infused and filled with active-learning spaces that foster experimenting and making. An important goal in the design of the library was to create a resilient building that can adapt to changing needs and respond to new technologies as they emerge.

Desks and chairs in the new library space

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One of the main goals of the renovation was to create more welcoming, quiet study spaces for contemplation and reflection. An interior walkway now connects the library to the Alumnae Gym, where additional learning spaces—including experimental studios, a User Experience Lab, a reading room and computer lab—will be open 24/7.
(Photo by Nic Lehoux)

Students standing on the roof of Neilson library, looking over the edge

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Off the Skyline Reading Room on the fourth floor, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding valley and Holyoke Range from the enchanting outdoor patio.
 

View of Maya Lin's original river-inspired artwork, created for Neilson library

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Maya Lin’s original sculpture of the Cappawonganick (Mill River) perfectly symbolizes Smith’s pride of place, the beauty of the campus and the college’s commitment to sustainability. 

Groups of students sitting in Neilson common area

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Neilson Library is a place for students and faculty to think and grow as active members of an academic community. Every feature of the library reflects what students wished for: flexible spaces, sustainable practices, lots of books, the latest technology, spaces to study alone together and a café for socializing. There are also seminar rooms for faculty and communal spaces where the community can gather for events.
(Photo by Nic Lehoux)

Student sitting at table, reading a book

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“I can’t wait to see how students use this building,”says Susan Fliss, Smith’s dean of libraries. “It really is a unifying space where everyone can gather to study, engage with ideas, use the incredible technology and the expertise of staff, and share what they’re learning with the entire community.”

Outside view of Neilson courtyard

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A sunken courtyard garden allows daylight to stream into the library’s ground floor, while at night it casts a magical glow from the inside out. 
(Photo by Nic Lehoux)

Outside view of the side Neilson library at night, with windows illuminated inside

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The College Archives, Sophia Smith Collection and the Mortimer Rare Book Collection have combined to form a unified Special Collections department. These collections, staff and teaching spaces fill the Mary Maples Dunn wing of the library.
(Photo by Nic Lehoux)

View looking skyward inside the Neilson library

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From its inception, Neilson has provided a space for women to think, learn and dream. 

A Hub for Ideas & Imagination

Content

40,000 linear feet of archival material and rare books

Community

1,900 Smith community members participated in the planning process

Flexibility

24 learning spaces: meet, socialize, study quietly, collaborate

A Place to Think Differently

The Neilson Library is more than a place that holds books. It’s a space that celebrates learning, reflection and intellectual exploration. As libraries keep evolving, Neilson will continue to foster bold creativity, expand intellectual boundaries and invite everyone to participate equally in dynamic scholarly exchange.

Ideal Spaces for Study & Scholarship

  • Flexible spaces and movable furniture accommodating individual or collaborative work
  • The right balance of books and new technology
  • Easier access to special collections
  • More opportunities for connection
  • Better access to librarians
  • An environment to create and innovate
  • A reflection room for self-care, contemplation and spiritual activities
  • A café to grab a snack while studying and socializing with friends

Collaboration & Discovery

  • Learning Commons—where students can discuss ideas or research with faculty, scholars, writing coaches, technologists and other experts
  • Jill Ker Conway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center—where students can bring their entrepreneurial ideas to life
  • Special Collections Seminar Room—equipped with high-tech cameras so visitors can analyze the fine details of objects from the collections
  • Exhibit spaces to showcase Smith community research and artwork 
  • A reading room for Special Collections research

High-Tech Tools to Advance Learning

  • A Digital Media Hub with high-end studios so students can record podcasts, videos and use other digital media to add another dimension to their traditional scholarship
  • Self-service labs where students can use technologies such as spatial analysis, gaming software, survey software and GIS
  • A User Experience Lab for research and usability testing
  • A Printing Room with regular, large-format and 3D printers, as well as other creativity tools

Sustainability: On the Table from the Start

The library uses materials and furnishings that were selected to minimize exposure to toxins and maximize the cognitive function of users. The building was designed to be the country’s most energy-efficient library with an archive, consuming half as much energy than a typical academic library.
Photos by Time Bandit Photography.

READ THE ARTICLE “TREE TO TABLE”
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Learning. Connection. Discovery. Beauty.

Photo by Nic Lehoux

Learning. In a New York Times article featuring the library, Maya Lin notes, “Even though there are newer ways in which they’re going to be teaching through the collections here, you’re still in a house of books.”
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Connection. The building’s signed steel beam is just one symbol showcasing that connection is an integral part of the Neilson’s mission to offer a unifying place for community.
Photo by Nic Lehoux

Discovery. Room for brainstorming. The spaces in Neilson are inviting whether alone or in a group, with technology that fosters a culture of experimentation and creating.
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Beauty. Right from the start, Maya Lin envisioned that the library would connect with its surroundings. Glass, wood, stone and light are key elements ensuring that the architecture is in harmony with nature.

Keep Exploring

News From the Libraries

Discover new collections, learn about events, visit the KnowledgeLab, and more.

Maya Lin Reveals Design

Grécourt Gate: Maya Lin revealed her design for Neilson Library in a community event October 14, 2016.

Giving Opportunities

Philanthropic support will continue to be important in funding new programming and initiatives.

Reason #2 You Should Visit

Technology-rich libraries

Schedule a Visit
Students sitting in chairs in Neilson Library