Library staff appreciate the appreciation!

On February 7th, Vermont State Colleges leadership announced a plan for the libraries in the system to go “all-digital” on July 1 when four of the colleges join to become Vermont State University. Castleton faculty, staff, students, and community members gathered in the library on February 13 to express their appreciation for library staff whose jobs would be eliminated on July 1 and the books in the library that are also at risk. You can read the coverage of these events in the student newspaper, The Spartan. You can read about the VSC’s plan for the libraries, and the media coverage of this plan and the opposition to it in this compilation of sources. Double click on an item in the list to open it in another tab.

The new display in the library is on this theme, with books about…books, reading, libraries, best practices in academic libraries, and digital media. All are welcome to come peruse this exhibit and consider and imagine libraries of the past and libraries of the future, and check out some of these books while you still can. You can see a list of the books included in the exhibit here.

The library is celebrating Black History Month this year with a book display on the theme of

Black Stories Matter

The books selected for the display in the library include recent popular and award-winning novels by Black authors, recent popular and award-winning books on the Black experience, like memoirs, books on important or previously neglected figures in Black history and culture, and books informing anti-racism work and education. Please come take a look and check out one of these books and learn from our most celebrated Black authors.

The books in this exhibit represent just a sampling of books we have on these topics in the library. To find more, consult our catalog. Also see a sampling of ebooks on anti-racism education in our EBSCO ebook collection. You can also access a wealth of additional resources on the library’s Race Matters guide, including reading lists and syllabi.

Eliminating racism in our society is the work of all of us. One way to get involved is to educate yourself. Reading is a way to educate yourself without asking people of color to do extra work.

If you are new to learning about racism and white supremacy in the U.S., library staff recommend So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.

An important book on the history of racist ideas in America is Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi. There is an abridged version of the book available, and a version for young readers.

We hope all of you Spartans have an educational Black History Month this year!