Author Archives: Library

Director’s Welcome

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Posted on behalf of Sabrina Pape, Director of the Libraries

New Vassar College Libraries Home Page

The new Vassar College Libraries home page at http://library.vassar.edu

 

Welcome back — and for freshmen, welcome! The Library is a wonderful place to find the information you need for your research interests, a quiet area for study or contemplation, or a place to check out a good book or movie. We’re looking forward to a great new year.

Changes at the Library

You’ll notice lots of new changes when you walk into the Libraries, both physical and virtual.  They include:

  • A beautiful art installation at the After-Hours Entrance / Exit area.  The artwork was created by Professor Harry Roseman and his students, and is entitled North Entrance.
  • Brand-new carpeting throughout much of the Main Library.
  • A new study area (next to the Courtyard) in the Main Library.
  • A brand-new library home page, with easy access to the Catalog, Discover (to search for books, articles, and other material at the same time), Journals, the Ask a Librarian service, and Hours

    North Entrance, by Harry Roseman

    North Entrance, by Harry Roseman. Photograph: Al Nowack / On Location Studios

Upcoming events

  • North Entrance Re-Opening and Reception
    Please join us in celebrating the re-opening of the north entrance to the Library at an informal reception on Tuesday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00 PM. Stop by the Library’s north entrance (opposite Chicago Hall) anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 PM on September 4th for refreshments and a chance to see the amazing transformation of the space. In case of rain, refreshments and conversation will be held in the Chicago Hall lobby.

  • Reexamining Books Exhibit and Reception
    Visit the new exhibit, Reexamining Books: Book Objects and Artist’s Books by Werner Pfeiffer, across campus in three locations — Thompson Memorial Library, Art Library in Taylor Hall, and the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center — from Thursday, September 6, through Saturday, December 15. The exhibits will be on view at all locations from 10am to 5pm Tuesdays through Saturdays.  A reception in honor of Pfeiffer, free and open to the public, will be held at 5:00pm on Thursday, September 6, in the Art Library.

Finally, don’t forget to keep reading our new blog!  Subscribe to learn more about what is happening at the Library, get “insider tips” to make your research better, read about new acquisitions, and be among the first to learn about new events, exhibits, and technology.  And don’t hesitate to contact us with questions, to make a research appointment, or to share your ideas.

Best of luck in the new semester!

Sabrina Pape, Director

Welcome to the Gargoyle Bulletin

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Picture this: You’re at a party, struggling to make small talk with that super-cool (classmate, colleague, neighbor, attractive member of the opposite/same sex) you’ve been dying to meet. You search your brain, paging through the interesting things you’ve read, seen and heard that week, looking for the perfect informational tidbit that will spark the best conversation either of you have ever had. And you’ve got it. “Did you know Vassar’s Special Collections has actual cuneiform tablets?” Your new best friend says, “What? How can that be true? That’s awesome!” You respond, “It is true. I read it on the library blog, The Gargoyle Bulletin!”

Cuneiform tablets from Vassar's Archives and Special Collections

Okay, perhaps this scenario is a little far-fetched. But only just a little. Really. The libraries are a central part of the Vassar experience, but while most folks have found their favorite place to work in the library, there’s so much more to know. The library web site takes you to the catalog, databases, library hours, etc., but The Gargoyle Bulletin will go beyond that, offering an insider’s perspective on the library including tips on the best use of our services and collections as well as announcements about new projects and upcoming events.

We hope the people who follow our blog will be better-informed, more connected, and yes, just possibly, better conversationalists. So bookmark this page right now and check in for weekly posts that could improve your social life but will definitely expand your knowledge base. You could also like us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter and we’ll let you know the instant we’ve posted something new.