The Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons
The Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons supports scholarship at Hood College by serving the research, teaching, and learning needs of students and faculty. The Learning Commons centralizes the academic support programs of the Library, Information Technology, and the Josephine Steiner Student Success Center.
The library is located conveniently near the academic buildings on campus and online through the library’s home page (www.hood.edu/library/). From the website, students can access full-text scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, electronic books, and other digital content. In addition to the 170,000+ volumes housed in the library, Hood students and faculty have access to print and electronic materials at other libraries through its robust interlibrary loan program, which facilitates borrowing from libraries across the globe.
Students have a choice of study environments in the library. Study carrels, computer stations, lounge chairs, and large tables offer varied settings for individual study. The library also has a number of group study rooms available; some offer small, intimate spaces, while others offer large collaborative spaces. The Learning Commons now features a self-serve café to help support long stays in the library.
Knowledgeable and friendly library staff are available to assist students, through in-person sessions, both walk-in and by appointment, or virtually through text messaging, instant messaging, email, video conferencing, and telephone. Subject-specific research guides are available on the library website, as well as citation guidelines, copyright and privacy policies, and other instructional tools. Group library instruction is provided by Research & Instruction Librarians both in the classroom and in the library computer lab. Faculty may arrange information literacy sessions at any time during the year.
Students can also explore and conduct research on Hood College history, through historical school records, photographs, and related documents held in the Hood College Special Collections and Archive, located on the 2nd floor.
Library hours vary to accommodate campus needs throughout the year. The hours can be found on the website at www.hood.edu/library/.