We encourage faculty to participate in the development of the collections by recommending the purchase of books and audio-visual materials.
While our primary responsibility is to support the curriculum and the College programs, the Libraries will also support faculty research when possible.
To request materials for the library:
New journal subscriptions must be approved by the academic department before the library can start a subscription. Due to increasing journal prices, in order to add a new journal, the department will need to drop subscription(s) of equivalent cost. Contact your library liaison to get information on subscription costs and other information to support the journal request.
What we offer:
Both Sawyer Library and Schow Science Library offer print reserves services. Reserves are commonly used to
What may be placed on print reserve:
Set up and manage your course reserve:
For question about the library's Reserve services, please contact the Head of Access Services.
We offer:
Terms of library digitizing Services:
How to request streaming:
Start in the library catalog: search for the film by title
For each request, the library will research streaming rights to determine whether we can legally provide a streamed version. If we can proceed with streaming, films will be made available through your Glow course and you will receive an email notification from the Access Services department.
In the event that we are not legally able to provide a streamed version, we will place the DVD on Reserve for your course.
What's included in the streamed version:
Turn around time:
Streaming requests are processed in the order in which they're received. Investigation of streaming rights and digitization of the film may take anywhere from 1 day to 4 weeks, depending on the volume of requests.
Support / More Information:
Using library films, you may choose to organize a film screening either in the library or in any other classrooms on campus.
Organizing library screenings:
Organizing screenings outside of the library
Securing Public Performance Rights
Showing a film to a group outside of your courses may require obtaining public performance rights. It is up to you to determine what you need to do to comply with copyright law. For more information see: Public Performance Rights Guidelines
Williams College does not have a required course where students learn basic research skills. Thus, library instruction liaisons and Special Collections librarians work with faculty to integrate research skills into their courses. As you prepare your syllabi, please consider the following library instruction services:
Library Research Sessions and Research Assignment Ideas
We can work with you to plan a library research session for your course. Our library research sessions feature a variety of active learning activities and hands-on practice that introduce students to doing research. We can cover topics such as:
It is best if the concepts learned in the library session can be applied to an assignment in your course. If you do not have such an assignment, see our Creating Information Literacy Assignments page or ask your library liaison for ideas.
Research Appointments
We are also available to meet with students individually or in small groups. If you would like to require students to schedule a research appointment instead of having a library research session, please check with your liaison to make sure this approach is feasible given your class size.
Course Research Guides and "How to" Guides
Upon request, we can create a course research guide introducing research strategies and library and information resources in the topic area(s) of your course. Research guides can be general for larger research papers or more specific for smaller assignments that require use of sources outside of class readings.
We also offer a variety of "how to" guides covering research tasks that cross disciplines such as citing sources and finding book reviews, newspapers articles, film reviews and criticism, images, and more. Please feel free to include links to any of these guides in your syllabi or Glow course.
Class Visits
If you don't have time for a full class session, we could briefly visit your class to pass out librarian trading cards, point students to a course or how to guide, and encourage students to set up research appointments if they need individual help.
If you are interested in any of these instructional services, please contact your library instruction liaison or Special Collections to discuss your course and what you would like your students to learn about doing research.
What is Special Collections?
The Special Collections department comprises Chapin Library and College Archives. It provides access to rare and unique materials.
Chapin Library collects rare books, manuscripts, and other primary source materials, both ancient and modern, in support of the Williams curriculum.
The College Archives is concerned with the history of Williams, and administers other special collections and books from the earliest libraries of the College.
How to work with materials in Special Collections
Including Special Collections materials in your courses
Special Collections librarians are available to work with you and your students. They offer:
Faculty are invited to suggest special collections acquisitions in support of courses or research interests.
Presentations and instruction sessions are offered in these spaces:
Archiving your Syllabi
College Archives archives course syllabi for several purposes:
We archive syllabi in electronic form only. Please e-mail your syllabi as attachments to syllabi@williams.edu.
For further information about collections and services or to schedule an appointment contact a Special Collections librarian.
The library works closely with the Office of Information Technology to integrate library content (articles, book chapters, streaming media) and services (Research Guides, Ask A Librarian service) into your GLOW courses. To that end we offer:
For assistance with library resources, contact your library liaison
For assistance with uploading content into Glow, contact your ITech liaison
Self-service
Library Service
Faculty may request scans of library materials.
To request scans: submit requests through the interlibrary loan system
All honors theses written by Williams undergraduates are treated as holdings of the Williams College Libraries. Faculty advising student honors theses should review the College's theses guidelines and share this information with their students. Faculty should be aware of guidelines and procedures, including format and title page guidelines, student/faculty release requirements, and deposit deadlines.
Students submit their thesis electronically as a pdf using our form. The faculty advisor will be asked via email to approve the student's selections regarding access to the thesis.
Theses without access restrictions are available in Unbound: Williams Online Collections.