Community Among the Stacks: Mossey Library Outreach Programs
Written by Monica Vanderweide
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden says, “There is a hunger in this digital age to hear authors together, to participate in programs, to just be in a place, a community space.” Hillsdale’s Mossey Library is such a place—giving students, faculty, and staff opportunities to explore new interests and engage with great literature through a variety of outreach programs.
Our Faculty After Hours began in 2001 as a way to learn about the hobbies and beyond-the-classroom interests of Hillsdale’s faculty. Professor Emeritus of Theatre George Angell gave the inaugural presentation on his hobby of building designer canoes from balsa wood. Subsequent presentations have covered subjects from the banjo to bookbinding to beer brewing. Last semester, Assistant Professor of Spanish Todd Mack gave a presentation titled “Confessions of a Recovering Podcaster,” in which he discussed the four years he co-hosted “The Protagonist Podcast.” Director of Institutional Research George Allen, who attended the presentation, appreciated Mack’s frankness about the rewards and challenges of podcasting, as well as his willingness to share stories of his hobby. “These presentations don’t just give us information, they give us insight into our friends’ and colleagues’ inner lives, and connecting your own inner life with that of others is a vital part of any community, especially an intellectual community,” Allen says.
In 2012, the library staff instituted a similar, once-a-semester program, Our Faculty’s Ongoing Research. Each program features a faculty member sharing their current research. Professor of History Tom Conner spoke at the first program, “War and Remembrance: The story of the American Battle Monuments Commission.” (That research has borne fruit in his recently published book of the same title.)
Libraries are first and foremost repositories of books, so naturally, several of Mossey Library’s programs focus on books. Public Services Librarian Brenna Wade coordinates a book discussion each semester. “I try to choose a book that is celebrating a milestone anniversary, or that has just been released as a movie, or that is popular,” she says. Recent discussions have commemorated the 150th anniversary of Little Women, the 150th anniversary of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birth, and the sci-fi series Ender’s Game, on which the recent film was based. Recognizing that students are pressed for time, Wade holds discussions during pizza lunches.
There’s a lighter side to Mossey’s programs, too. Five years ago, Wade put together the first “Mossey Madness” contest, in which literary titles, authors, and characters go head-to-head in brackets and advance based on the votes of students, faculty, and staff. Last year’s theme pitted heroes against villains. “This is our most popular event,” Wade says. “It generates a lot of buzz on campus as professors and students discuss the pairings.” There’s an incentive to participate, too; the three entries closest to the final bracket win prizes ranging from Amazon gift cards to an exclusive tour of Hillsdale’s storied underground tunnels. Senior Haley Hauprich won the 2018 contest. “Activities like this help keep our imaginations alive and allow us to be a little silly, even when we have midterms and papers on our plates,” she says.
Mossey Library’s programs are open to all. Visit its website at lib.hillsdale.edu and follow Mossey Library on Facebook and Instagram for more information and program announcements.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2019 edition of Hillsdale: The Official Magazine of the Hillsdale College Alumni Association.