To the VC class of 2028 and our transfer students: Welcome! We're so happy you're here, and we look forward to getting to know you and work with you throughout your years at Vassar.
We hope that you'll find this guide for new students helpful. We've compiled essential information to assist you in navigating the Vassar libraries. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with us! You can find lots of ways to contact librarians through our Ask a Librarian page.
This year's Common Reading is The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr. Interested in reviews, interviews, and related resources? Check out this guide!
Welcome to the Vassar College Libraries!! I have always loved getting lost in libraries; exploring amazing collections, finding comfortable places to work, and encountering new ideas that inspire and challenge me. I know that Vassar's libraries can offer you the same experiences, and I hope you find your time here exciting and fulfilling.
Even though we try to make the libraries as welcoming and accessible as possible, it can be daunting to try to find the right resources for your class assignments, papers, and projects. You can always contact a librarian for assistance, whether it is for help finding the right book, ideas on how to get started on a research project, or any other help you might need to get started in the right direction.
I look forward to meeting many of you in the months and years to come! You can find me in room 142 of the Library, if you ever have any questions or suggestions.
Andy Ashton
Director of the Libraries
This is a photo of the Main (Thompson) Library. It's just one of the libraries at Vassar; there's also the Archives & Special Collections Library (located inside the Main Library), the Art Library (connected to the Main Library), and the Music Library (located in the Belle Skinner Hall of Music). Collectively, these are the Vassar College Libraries. You'll probably find that people use "the library" and "the libraries" interchangeably. It can be confusing at first, but it's one of the ways we highlight that there are multiple amazing collections and spaces that are available to the Vassar community, and that the library is so much more than a pretty building (although our buildings are definitely beautiful!).
There's a librarian for every subject at Vassar! Each department or program has a "liaison librarian" who helps connect students and faculty with library resources and services that are relevant to their needs.
During your time at Vassar, a librarian might visit your class to discuss research strategies and sources, or your professor might recommend that you get in touch with a librarian while you're working on a project or paper. You are always welcome to get in touch with Vassar librarians! We are happy to answer general questions about the libraries, and we love to help students dig into their research.
Visit the Ask a Librarian page for more information about contacting librarians. If you're not sure where to begin, email us at researchhelp@vassar.edu and we'll point you in the right direction.
