Olin and Chalmers Libraries

These two joined buildings, which together constitute "the library" at Kenyon, are far more than a repository for an excellent collection of books. They are also a hub from which members of the College community navigate through the ever-expanding network of resources and tools that define "information" today. Here students and professors find, first, a seemingly infinite array of resources—printed, electronic, and multimedia—and, second, experts who will help them take best advantage of those resources.

In one sense, the library is not a fixed location, because students can access many of its resources from their residence-hall rooms as well as from computer labs throughout the campus. But Olin and Chalmers are real, physical places: spacious, modern buildings with comfortable reading and reference areas, a well-staffed "Help" center, a computer lab, open-access shelves, and a number of special-purpose rooms for such functions as language learning and audiovisual services. Many members of the professional staff hold the title "librarian and technology consultant," meaning that they not only provide the traditional services of reference and research librarians but also offer training and guidance in using electronic resources—such as databases, reference works, and journals—as well as the range of software programs that the College makes available.

Consortial arrangements give students access to more than 12 million books at libraries throughout Ohio, with interlibrary loan providing delivery in one to two days. Kenyon's on-site collection includes more than 382,741 books and 364,492 documents, along with 138,841 microforms as well as videos, DVDs, and slides. The archives, located in the Greenslade Special Collections Room, hold a collection of manuscripts and first-edition literary works, many relating to figures associated with The Kenyon Review, as well as innumerable documents, some quite rare, relating to the College's history. Olin Library also houses Kenyon's art gallery.

Olin Library Fast Facts
Olin Library: In Our Own Words
Offices and Departments in Olin

Olin Library Fast Facts

Built: Chalmers Library was built in 1962. Olin was built in 1986, as part of a project that included the complete renovation of Chalmers.

Named for: Chalmers was named for Gordon Keith Chalmers, the thirteenth president of Kenyon. Olin was named for the Olin Foundation, which provided a $5.5-million gift for the building.

Current use: Library collection, network and information-technology services, archives and special collections, art gallery, language learning room.

Insider information: There are two terms relating to the library that every Kenyon student quickly learns. One is "LBIS," an acronym standing for Library and Information Services, the administrative division that is based in the library and that has responsibility for everything relating to information, its tools, and its transfer. That includes books, videos and DVDs, electronic reference works, computer labs, student computers linked to the College network, the network itself, e-mail, the World Wide Web, software applications, and telephones. The other term is "Helpline," a source of technical help for virtually all computer-related matters. The Helpline can be reached by phone or e-mail, and Helpline staff members are available at a desk near the reference area in the library.

Olin Library: In Our Own Words

"We don't have a campus center. It's the best thing ever, because it means that there are several campus centers. The dining hall, the library, the bookstore are all gathering places at all hours of the day."
—Tom Susman, Class of 2004, political science major

Offices and Departments in Olin