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“Take Me to Your Library”

Map showing the three libraries in use during the New Neilson construction.

Published August 9, 2018

“Take Me to Your Library!”

That’s the theme for Smith Libraries this fall—a message that spotlights a virtual universe of library tools and services.

During the construction of a new Neilson, library activity has moved to three other campus libraries: Young Library in Bass Hall, Hillyer Art Library in the Brown Fine Arts Center and Josten Performing Arts Library in Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts.

“The library is really everywhere on campus,” says Jodi Shaw, Smith’s reference, instruction and outreach librarian. “You don’t have to be a theatre student to use the performing arts library, for example. All of our libraries have services for all of our students.”

Students, faculty and staff can explore a wide range of library services—including new digital search tools and links to on-call librarians—at the First-Year Orientation Information Fair Sunday, Sept. 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. in locations across campus.

Also that week, Smith Libraries will present “First-Year Conundrum: The Musical,” an event designed to acquaint students with library resources through music and improv comedy. The performance is Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 1:30 p.m. in Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage Hall.

Here’s a sneak preview of some of what Smith Libraries has to offer this semester (with surprises):

Books via vans 

Students, faculty and staff can easily request Smith library books now housed in the Five College book annex in Hatfield, Mass. Requests are made online via the Five College catalog, and books are delivered by van to the “hold” shelf in Young Library twice a day on weekdays. Requested books from Smith’s collection can be delivered within 24 hours. Books requested from other libraries in the Five College network can be delivered within 24 to 48 hours. (Surprise: About 1.5 million books in Smith’s collection are now housed in the annex.)

Librarians at the ready 

Smith librarians are on call from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday, and online through the “Ask Us” service, to help with research questions, digital study tools—and more. Students can schedule an appointment, drop in at Young Library or email queries to college library experts. (Surprise: An A-Z database offers sophisticated research tools on topics ranging from Africana studies to zoology.)

In search of a study space with natural light or very little noise? 

The SmithScape app has information about more than 90 library and study spaces across campus. Accessible from a smartphone or laptop, SmithScape users can search by type of space, available resources, vending machines, natural light and even noise levels—from “silent hum” to “chatter.” (Surprise: Students in two Smith anthropology classes helped develop the app in partnership with Smith Libraries and Common Media.)

Movies, maps and more 

Smith library resources include far more than the customary scholarly volumes. Music, movies, language instruction, magazines and other “cool stuff” is just a click away for holders of Smith One Cards on the libraries Fun Page. (Surprise: This entire category!)

Very special collections 

From the Mary Shelley Frankenstein collection to student scrapbooks to documents from the women’s reproductive justice movement, Smith’s Special Collections are a treasure trove of primary sources. Campus community members can search online for items in the Mortimer Rare Book Collection, College Archives and the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History. In the new Neilson, all three remarkable collections will be located in one shared space. (Surprise: Actor and activist Jane Fonda’s FBI file—as well as letters, movies and other materials documenting her life—are now part of the Sophia Smith Collection.)