Hulbert Taft, Jr. Library
Designed by the architectural firm of Jeeter & Cook and completed in 1969, our library is a memorial to Horace Dutton Taft’s great nephew, Hulbert Taft, Jr. ’26. Nearly 30 years later the library underwent major renovations and was annexed to the Lady Ivy Kwok Wu Science and Mathematics Center. Both “Wu” and the Nancy and Ben Belcher Learning Center—with the Belcher Reading Room its stunning core—were formally opened and dedicated in September, 1997. The reading room offers a spacious and welcoming environment for study, research and quiet collaboration; its vast windows are etched with words of wisdom and inspiration.
The Hulbert Taft, Jr. Library plays a central role in the educational and cultural life of the school; is not only a place for research and study but also a place for relaxation and leisure reading. It is where students, faculty, and staff can work individually and in small groups, and where they can browse through open shelves and sample new interests, in both print and digital formats. The library staff is committed to providing quality resources, services and support that will meet the challenges of educational, societal, and technological change while maintaining the traditional role of the library as a locus for the academic life of the community.
The library houses more than ten distinct collections, with the Main Circulating Collection comprising the bulk of the Library's 55,000 print volumes. Our digital resources include over 70 databases, which provide access to thousands of academic journal articles, magazine articles, newspapers articles, and ebooks, images, as well as streaming music, audio, and video resources. Access is available to current content as well as primary source material dating back to the ancient world.
Our library is open and staffed 86 hours each week while classes are in session. The library staff is always available to answer questions, assist in locating material or recommend resources for projects and research papers. Most students will be formally introduced to the Library in an academic class, but the staff encourages students to come in anytime for a personal tour and introduction to the library. Members of the Taft community can also access the library's digital resources via the campus network and remotely.