The Boston Library Consortium (BLC) is pleased to welcome Smith College as its newest member, joining a coalition of libraries in the northeastern United States committed to sharing knowledge, infrastructure, and resources at scale.
As a member, Smith College becomes part of a diverse and collaborative network of library professionals working together to advance shared goals through collective action and shared leadership. Smith librarians and library workers will have access to BLC’s robust professional development ecosystem, including curated webinars and workshops, leadership development programs, and BLC Forum—our annual membership meeting that brings the community together to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas.
Smith staff will also be able to engage in BLC’s vibrant membership Communities, which create opportunities to share expertise, build relationships, and contribute to member-driven initiatives across the consortium. These Communities are central to BLC’s work as a learning organization, supporting continuous growth and collaboration at all levels.
In addition, Smith College will participate in BLC’s innovative resource sharing programs and values-based licensing and content initiatives—efforts grounded in expanding access, strengthening shared infrastructure, and advancing collective impact across member institutions.
Smith College and Smith College Libraries
Founded in 1871, Smith College opened in 1875 with 14 students. Today, it is one of the largest women’s liberal arts colleges in the United States, educating women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose. Smith enrolls more than 2,500 students from nearly every U.S. state and more than 65 other countries to cultivate leaders able to address the complex, urgent problems of today. As a global community of scholars, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, activists, and humanitarians, Smith is leading collaboratively in the world.
The Smith College Libraries advance teaching, learning, research, and discovery for Smith students, faculty, and staff. Through their collections, the Libraries provide access to information worldwide in multiple formats, establishing services and learning environments responsive to users' needs. The Libraries further support women's education through an internationally recognized repository of archives and manuscripts documenting the history of women. The Smith College Libraries hold more than 1.4 million items, including books, periodicals, microforms, maps, and more. There are special-subject libraries for the fine and performing arts and the sciences, as well as a distinguished collection of women’s history manuscripts and a nationally prominent rare book collection.
“Smith College and its libraries have long been committed to collaboration, resource sharing, and collective problem-solving – values that align closely with the BLC’s purpose and priorities. Membership in the consortium will strengthen our ability to support student learning, faculty research, and community engagement,” said Nancy Kirkpatrick, Dean of Libraries at Smith College, “Our interest in membership is also informed by the meaningful engagement we have already had with the consortium. These experiences have given us a deep appreciation for the BLC’s collaborative culture and strategic vision.Their supportive professional community have given our staff a firsthand understanding of the consortium’s values, its commitment to professional development, and its collective spirit. They have left a lasting, positive impression, and we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to build on this foundation as BLC members.”
“At Smith, our new strategic plan, Compass 2035, is anchored in the belief that we must "discover everywhere" and "lead anywhere,” said Daphne Lamothe, Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Smith College. “A key pillar of this plan is the cultivation of strategic partnerships that expand Smith's reach and affirm our role as a "generous neighbor" within the educational landscape of Massachusetts and beyond. Joining the BLC is a natural and vital extension of this mission. We recognize that the goals of Compass 2035—specifically reimagining learning and discovery—are best realized through the kind of collective action and visionary resource-sharing that the BLC exemplifies.”
Smith College Libraries brings deep strengths that will benefit the BLC community, including:
- Distinguished Special Collections and Archives, including the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History and Mortimer Rare Book Collection – resources supporting interdisciplinary and global research.
- Leadership in digital scholarship and data services, supporting faculty and students across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields.
- Commitment to open access and open educational resources, including partnerships and infrastructure that promote equitable models for learning and research.
- Extensive consortial experience, including decades of collaboration through Five Colleges, Inc., which has fostered a culture of shared governance, collective service development, and resource sharing expertise.
“We are thrilled to welcome Smith College to BLC’s growing network of member institutions,” said Charlie Barlow, BLC’s Executive Director. “Smith brings not only extraordinary collections and a deeply resourced library, but also a spirit of engagement and leadership that aligns powerfully with BLC’s mission. Their enthusiastic staff and clear institutional commitment position them to be a dynamic and impactful partner in our shared work.”
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.