College Libraries

Naomi Baron, a linguist from American University and an expert on language and technology, will talk with us about how technology is reshaping our understanding of what it means to read. While reading onscreen has many virtues, including convenience, potential cost-savings, and the opportunity to bring free access to books to people around the world, she argues that the virtues of eReading are matched with drawbacks. Users are easily distracted by other temptations on their devices, multitasking is rampant, and screens coax us to skim rather than read in-depth.

Working with students in research contexts presents great opportunities for learning as well as new challenges in teaching. How do we prepare students for the unknown? How can they contribute effectively to faculty projects? How do we prepare them to be effective researchers themselves? Join Will Amidon (Geology), Svea Closser (Anthropology), and Amy Morsman (History) in a discussion of the challenges they experience bringing students into their research, helping students develop their own research projects, and integrating research into a course.

Despite claims in the popular press that Google has made libraries obsolete, we have found to the contrary that the library continues to serve the campus as a vital intellectual space that brings us together and connects us to the information and services we need for our academic pursuits. Yet, how will our libraries need to change in the coming decade as the College charts a new direction, and as the information landscape continues to evolve? Who we are and where do we want to go? What are the challenges and opportunities we face?

The State Of Marriage profiles the remarkable men and women who pioneered the national marriage equality movement through their groundbreaking efforts in Vermont. Join the filmmakers and activists for a post-film Q&A. Light refreshments will be served.

Please join us on Wednesday, March 7th, 4:30pm in Axinn 229 for a talk by Seth Denbo, Director of Scholarly Communication and Digital Initiatives, American Historical Association (and Middlebury alumnus).

Please join us for a talk by Scott Saul on Richard Pryor’s comedy in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo. Light refreshments served.

What is the origin of our right to privacy ? How has our notion of privacy evolved over time? What are the main threats to privacy today? How can individuals protect privacy in our increasingly digital world?

Join us for a presentation on these crucial questions by Alex Alben, technology executive, national commentator, and Washington State’s Chief Privacy Officer. Privacy.wa.gov

Hair me out for a second. Black hair is multifaceted. It is resistance, a revolutionary crown. It’s beautiful. It’s not just hair. Our roots are rooted in an ever changing culture of blackness. Every strand is an ode to self-love. From February 3rd—March 19th, be sure to visit Davis Family Library’s atrium and Upper Level to see what black hair means to our diaspora-MiddKids. We plan on touching on the history, politics, diversity of textures, care routines, styles and personal significance of black hair.

Hair me out for a second. Black hair is multifaceted. It is resistance, a revolutionary crown. It’s beautiful. It’s not just hair. Our roots are rooted in an ever changing culture of blackness. Every strand is an ode to self-love. From February 3rd—March 19th, be sure to visit Davis Family Library’s atrium and Upper Level to see what black hair means to our diaspora-MiddKids. We plan on touching on the history, politics, diversity of textures, care routines, styles and personal significance of black hair.