The Boston Library Consortium (BLC) is pleased to announce that Middlebury College, Trinity College, and Connecticut College have joined our network of libraries, bringing the total number of member institutions to 26.
BLC members collaborate to deliver innovative and cost-effective sharing of print and digital content, professional development initiatives, and projects across a wide range of library practice areas. Membership with BLC will allow faculty, students, scholars, and library staff at Middlebury, Trinity, and Connecticut colleges to participate in all of the consortium's programs and strategic initiatives, including membership communities, reciprocal borrowing privileges, and resource sharing among BLC member institutions.
Additionally, library staff can take advantage of curated professional development opportunities to facilitate sharing expertise, highlighting the work of librarians and library staff across the BLC member institutions and experts in the library and information community.
In collaboration with two other BLC member institutions, the University of Vermont and Wesleyan University, these new members are working to configure a shared integrated library system for an initial cohort of member institutions to facilitate cooperative collection management, consortial acquisitions, streamlined resource sharing, and shared analytics.
Middlebury College operates three libraries in Vermont’s Champlain Valley and one at the Middlebury Institute in Monterey, California.
The Davis Family Library is the main library on the Middlebury College campus and features group and student-led Library Atrium Displays to coincide with local and global current events. The Armstrong Science Library provides resources and support in biology, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, environmental studies, geography, geology, physics, and psychology. The Wilfred Davison Memorial Library supports the Bread Loaf School of English, a summer master's and continuing education program for educators and professionals, and the prestigious Bread Loaf Writer's Conferences. In Monterey, California, the Institute Library supports the work of faculty and students at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
“We see joining BLC as a way to both benefit our local Middlebury community by providing access to additional resources through the consortium and also as a way to contribute to the overall health of library networks, which helps all of us provide better services to our local constituents,” said Michael Roy, Dean of the Library at Middlebury College. “In particular, we are excited about the possibility of other BLC members being able to join in on our shared catalog effort and also how we can bring some of our ideas for additional shared services to BLC.”
Trinity’s Raether Library and Information Technology Center includes the Watkinson Library, Library and Information Technology Services, and the Student Accessibility Resource Center.
Trinity’s Library and Information Technology Services (LITS) comprises over 60 library and technology professionals with expertise in information technology, customer service, collections, educational technology, research, instruction, and special collections and archives.
A cornerstone of distinction in Trinity’s Library is the Watkinson Library. The Watkinson Library serves as a public research library, the rare book and special collections of Trinity College, and the repository of the College archives. The Enders Ornithology Collection in the Watkinson is home to John James Audubon’s elephant folio of the Birds of America, once belonging to the engraver Robert Havell. Other notable collection areas include a vast collection of Incunabula (books printed in Europe before 1501), artist books, unique periodicals, and scrapbooks. It boasts over 200,000 cataloged rare books and maps and approximately 10,000 linear feet of archival materials.
“Trinity is committed to the collective goals and collaborative spirit of BLC,” said Kristen Eshleman, Vice President, Library and Information Technology Services. “The emphasis on communities of practice, resource sharing, and innovation aligns with our own strategies for advancing librarianship and maintaining a position of strength both at Trinity and within higher education. We look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the collective goals and the collaborative spirit of the consortium.”
Connecticut College has two libraries: the Charles E. Shain Library and the Greer Music Library.
Shain Library has 450,000 print books and more than 1 million ebooks, with special features including the Technology Commons, Visualization Wall, and Academic Resource Center. It also houses The Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives with rare books, manuscripts, and art collections. The Greer Music Library, located in the Cummings Arts Center, serves the Department of Music and the college community with multimedia collections, including books, periodicals, scores, and recordings of musical performances.
“Membership in BLC will help Connecticut College better serve our patrons and position our organization and staff for the future,” said Lee Hisle, Vice President for Information Services and Librarian of the College. “We will bring to BLC a lengthy and concrete history of participation and financial investment in consortial partnerships, resource sharing programs, shared collection development initiatives, and collective retention programs.”
“We are pleased to welcome Trinity College, Middlebury College, and Connecticut College to our growing network of member institutions,” said Charlie Barlow, Executive Director of BLC. “I am particularly energized about their early leadership in our shared systems and services project and their enthusiasm for our professional development activities.” These new memberships are effective June 1, 2023. Efforts are underway to support the implementation of BLC’s consortial resource sharing systems at the colleges’ respective libraries.
About Boston Library Consortium
Boston Library Consortium empowers a coalition of libraries in the northeastern United States to share knowledge, infrastructure, and resources at scale.
Founded in 1970, BLC’s strength lies in its diverse membership network of public and private universities, liberal arts colleges, state libraries, public libraries, and special libraries united by a commitment to champion innovation through collaboration. For more information, visit blc.org
About Trinity College
Founded in 1823, Trinity College is a private liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. The school offers an educational experience that prioritizes intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and practical application of knowledge. With students from all 50 states and over 70 countries, Trinity offers more than 40 majors and 30 interdisciplinary minors. The college also emphasizes community engagement, providing many opportunities for service-learning and civic engagement activities. For more information, visit trincoll.edu
About Middlebury College
Established in 1800, Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in Vermont’s verdant Champlain Valley. The institution provides a liberal arts education that values reflection, discussion, and intensive interactions between students and faculty and is committed to diversity and environmental initiatives. The college aims to produce thoughtful, ethical leaders with independent thinking skills, a commitment to service, and an appreciation for diverse cultures and ideas. For more information, visit middlebury.edu
About Connecticut College
Founded in 1911, Connecticut College is redefining liberal education for the 21st century. Their Connections approach encourages students to ask personal and meaningful questions and explore answers by integrating courses from multiple disciplines, engaging in off-campus learning, and sharing what they have learned with the larger community. Connecticut College graduates are prepared to be creative, adaptive thinkers ready to tackle the world’s most complex problems. For more information, visit conncoll.edu