Letter from the Director

Welcome to the Warren Hunting Smith Library situated in the heart of campus. On behalf of the entire library team, I am delighted to extend a welcome to you and announce the launch of our inaugural issue of our newsletter. We look forward to supporting you throughout your educational and research journey in the upcoming academic year.

I’ve completed my first year at HWS and it has been an exciting time of learning new faces around campus and being immersed in the flow of the academic calendar. It has also been a transformative time for the library marked by a number of significant achievements and advancements. Just to name a few, the library has launched a vibrant and popular social media presence, announced campus-wide access to the Chronicle of Higher Education, hosted a very well-attended Rare Book Expo, and implemented a series of popular student-facing events. Last but not least, I’m excited to announce that in July the library was inducted into the highly prestigious Oberlin Group of Libraries, a consortium of leading liberal arts colleges in the United States. Membership in the Oberlin Group positions us within a community of peer libraries and allows us to benefit from a network of innovative libraries offering new perspectives, ideas and other collaboration opportunities.  

We are proud of these accomplishments and remain committed to supporting academic excellence and research at HWS.

The Warren Hunting Smith Library is more than just a place to find books; it is a vibrant hub of knowledge, learning and collaboration. Here are some of the key services and resources we offer:

Collections: We boast a vast collection of print and electronic books and journals, and databases covering a wide range of subjects. You can explore our catalog online or visit us in person to discover materials that will support your coursework and research.

Research Assistance: The reference librarians are available to help you through the research process. Whether you need help finding sources, citing materials, or navigating databases, don't hesitate to reach out to us. For faculty, we offer tailored library instruction to assist your students in classroom assignments.

Study Spaces: We offer a variety of comfortable study environments, from quiet individual study areas to collaborative group workspaces.

We encourage you to take full advantage of the library's resources and services. Our staff is dedicated to helping you succeed, so please do not hesitate to ask for assistance whenever you need it.

Once again, welcome and we wish you a successful and enriching academic experience. We are excited to be a part of your journey.

Warm regards,

Chuck Vesei
Library Director and Librarian of the Colleges

Get started on your Research with a new Library Guide

The library has a number of Research Guides available to help you with your research, including a brand new one: How to Navigate the Research Process. Whether you've gotten as far as you can on your own and need a helping hand, or you have no idea where to even start your research journey, this step-by-step Guide will provide you with the tools to get started on your next research project. 

The library also offers Research and Reference help by appointment. Staff are available to help you with a tricky citation or teach you how to locate relevant sources using the library catalog and databases. You can schedule your appointment on the library website. 

How to use your class's Course Reserve List

Need to read a chapter or review a homework question before your next class, but don't want to trek to your dorm for your book? Is the required textbook for your class on backorder at the campus bookstore?

Your professor may have provided materials for you to use on Course Reserve!

What is Course Reserve? It's a collection of books, articles and audiovisual materials that ensure all students have fair use of materials for a specific class. Physical items are kept behind the Library's Circulation Desk for your convenience (that's the desk directly to your right as you enter the Library).  

If you know the book title, your professor's last name and the course number, we can find the book and check it out to you. In the event you need to watch a video for class, we even have media viewing rooms available. You can browse available items on the Library website. 

It’s been a busy summer in the HWS Archives. We’ve received a large transfer of materials from the Adams Intercultural Center as the wonderful Alejandra Molina prepares to step down as Director. Processing those materials and making them available to researchers will happen over the next year.

Brandon has also completed a new digital exhibit on the history of the Middle Building (see photo), the old Hobart library which burned down in 1885. You can check it out at the link below. Also, come see Benjamin Hale’s burned Bible on the first floor of the library, which was rescued from the flames by some intrepid students.

Follow the archives on Instagram:  @hwsarchives

With the library's affiliation with Northern New York Library Network, you have access to eBooks through Overdrive and the accompanying smartphone app, Libby. The digital collection includes a range of popular fiction, classic fiction and nonfiction. You can read on your phone, within the Libby app, or on a desktop with the Overdrive web app. You can even upload eBooks to your Kindle and read on the go!

As long as you are in possession of an HWS email address, you can take advantage of a free digital subscription to the New York Times. We have an FAQ explaining how to register your account. Happy reading!

During the Spring semester, the library sent out a survey to the HWS community asking questions about what you like about the library and also areas where you'd like to see improvement. One of the comments we heard was the need to replace our hanging power outlets because they were no longer properly connecting to your power plugs. We heard you and are happy to say we have replaced all of these outlets on the second and third floors!

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