Library Services
Facility
The Hoffman Family Library is the intellectual hub of Goodwin's community. Its signature two-story space, overlooking the Connecticut River, combines the best of traditional design with the latest technological tools. The Library's collaborative learning spaces provide leisure seating and research tables on each floor, group-study rooms, study carrels, book stacks, periodical and newspaper areas, and 34 computer work stations. Wireless connectivity is available for Goodwin's 50 laptop computers and students' personal laptop computers. Located on the second floor of the library, the Hoffman Family Library Learning Commons brings together library and technology using a Media Scape that fosters informal, collaborative and creative work. Wireless connectivity is available for Goodwin's 50 laptop computers and students' personal laptop computers.
Other resources include a photocopier, printer, audiovisual hardware and software. Laptops are available for checkout to students and faculty. Current faculty, staff and students can also check out digital cameras, Kindles or Nooks. The staff assists users with software and hardware, printing and copying, and other technical issues.
Staff and Hours
The library staff now includes the director, three librarians, an administrative assistant, and student workers. The library is open seven days a week with extended hours during exam weeks. Real time reference assistance is available using Ask a Librarian page that includes: in person, by phone, e-mail, instant messages through Meebo, and the Text-a-Librarian platform.
Library Without Walls
The library's home page at www.goodwin.edu/Library is our library without walls. The gateway to the library's resources, the home page, includes access to and information about using all of the library collections. The home page features reference services and news of interest to the Goodwin community on the library's blog and Twitter pages. Staff and students can access the library's e-books and research databases off-campus by using their SonisWeb username and password. Print resources are accessible using the library's online catalog.
Collections
The development of resources in the library targets the baccalaureate programs supported by the College, promotes reading, and makes available ideas that develop staff, faculty, and students as advanced thinkers. The library program endeavors to provide all its patrons with the tools needed to become successful scholars and lifelong learners
The collection continues to expand with additional in-house subscriptions, books, audio-visual materials, and artifacts. Currently, there are over 15,000 print titles, 130 journal and newspaper subscriptions, and more than 450 audiovisual materials. However, the library has responded to user demands for more electronic resources that include 66 research databases with online access to over 45,000 full-text journal and newspaper titles. Other databases give students and faculty on and off-campus access to more than 70,000 full text academic and reference books and 1000 films online. Membership in the Connecticut Interlibrary Loan System, a consortium of over 400 libraries in the state, allows library users to borrow materials not in the Hoffman collection. Users create their library accounts, view their circulation records, place holds and renew materials, create reading lists, recommend book, write reviews, and more.
Services
The library provides a variety of services for staff, faculty, and students including those in the Distance Education program. The library home page provides faculty and staff with forms for information literacy instruction, material requests to expand the collection, and reserve requests.
The staff is actively involved in curriculum support services and has developed faculty partnerships to strengthen learning outcomes for students. Web and video tutorials on all aspects of metaliteracy reinforce faculty instruction for students. Students and faculty use Guides for Citing and Writing and Subject Resources available in the library and on the home page.
The library put strong emphasis on teaching Information literacy and technology skills. All freshmen are introduced to the library resources and information literacy through several courses. New students who enter the college with 6 or more transferable collegiate credits take ASD 110. All students who do not have 6 or more transferable collegiate credits take college experience courses. Further, the library staff is available to faculty and their classes to introduce and reinforce information literacy skills to provide their students with effective research techniques. Particular skills are introduced in the foundational courses and customized instruction is provided in advanced courses. One-on-one consultations are also available for students who need more assistance. All students and members of the Goodwin Community can receive help on daily basis during the library's operational hours. Professional development workshops are also provided to introduce new resources and metaliteracy tools.
Special Collections
The Hoffman Family library is honored to house and maintain The Alex Haley special Collection Archive. Items from the collection are in continuous display on the second floor. Items from this expanding collection are available for classroom and offsite presentations. The library also continuously displays art in many formats, including unique sculptures from Zimbabwe, hand-crafted historical ship models, paintings, and other local collections.