Embedded Files
A Message from Andrew Ashton, Director of the Libraries
A Message from Andrew Ashton, Director of the Libraries
Greetings from the Vassar Libraries! We are delighted to have students back on campus for the spring semester studying, researching, and collaborating together.
As the intellectual hub of the Vassar, the Libraries are continuously working to advance the College’s educational mission of empowering an inclusive community of scholars, teachers, and learners.
To that end, we are excited to be working with an architectural firm on a planning study to explore how we can best support the future of the Vassar College Libraries. Our planning will draw on newer academic library trends and also support all kinds of learning styles.
We are exploring ways to position the library at the center of teaching and learning, integrate it more fully with the student campus experience, and increase accessibility among other goals. Some of the ideas we are looking at include:
Making the Catherine Pelton Durrell ’25 Archives and Special Collections Library, located on the ground level, more accessible. Be sure to watch the video below to see more about the special collections program.
Improving the visibility and accessibility of our Quantitative Center (Q-Center), Writing Center, and Research Librarians to make it easier for students to receive support for their research and writing needs.
I am delighted to share this video with an insider’s look into this hidden treasure where you can find our noteworthy collection of rare books, manuscripts, archival records, and other special materials.
Other initiatives designed to make learning resources more readily available include:
Other initiatives designed to make learning resources more readily available include:
The Movement for Affordable Textbooks aimed at easing the financial burden for students of buying textbooks and other course materials.
“Over the years I have seen that Vassar is a community of people who really care about students. Seeing first-hand student frustration and the consequences of their inability to afford textbooks, members of the faculty, staff, and student body have made attempts to combat this issue, but more is needed. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative (EPI) has been the perfect vehicle to concentrate these efforts. Coming from different areas of the college, each of us brings a piece of the solution. As we share our areas of knowledge, together we can find answers."
Sarah Canino, Music Libraries, Co-Chair of The Movement for Affordable Textbooks
Sarah Canino, Music Libraries, Co-Chair of The Movement for Affordable Textbooks
The Archival Recordings Project is digitalizing recordings at the greatest risk from our collection in the Dickinson Music Library.
These one-of-a-kind fragile recordings document Vassar songs, class parties (musicals), a cappella groups, intercollegiate choral and musical collaborations between faculty, students, and members of the local community from as far back as the 1930s.
We are thrilled to have received a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources to work with a conservation center and audio-visual company to digitize these rare and special recordings, make them accessible in the Libraries’ digital repository, and promote the collection.
Despite the pandemic, it has been a joy to continue to offer exciting exhibitions with in-person events (following appropriate distancing guidelines). We marked the 700th anniversary of the death of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri with a fall 2021 exhibition titled Rare Editions of Dante in Special Collections and a special program that drew the largest audience in recent times (pre-Omicron) to the Class of 1951 Reading Room.
As you can see, the Vassar Libraries offers something for everyone – and that, of course, includes our valued alumnae/i. We look forward to having you stop in and see us during Reunion or while you are on campus for a program or exhibition, or just make a trip to explore the library! We also will continue to keep you updated on the planning study results. Thank you for your wonderful support and generosity that helps make the Libraries so extraordinary and the future bright.
Sincerely,
Andy Ashton
Page updated
Report abuse