Latest Post
Welcome Drew McNaughton: Our New Library Systems Administrator!
Posted March 5, 2026
Introducing the newest member of the Digital Services team, Drew McNaughton!
W&M Libraries Blog
A Research Librarian's Road trip to Radford
Posted
Recently I had the opportunity to attend a conference at Radford University called The Innovative Library Classroom, or TILC. Radford University which is in, yep, you guessed it, Radford, Virginia, is about 270 miles from Williamsburg; therefore, road trip! The route from Williamsburg went along Interstate 64 and then south on Interstate 81.
"[W]hy must I always suffer every misfortune which happens": An eyewitness account of revolution in the streets
Posted
The quotation in the title of this post is from a letter about an 1890 revolution in Buenos Aires known as The Revolution of the Park.
What can photographers find at Swem?
Posted
Did you know that May is National Photography month? Well if you didn't, now you do! I bet you're wondering -- what sorts of resources does Swem have for budding young students of photography?
Must Love Dogs: E. J. Detmold
Posted
This month's "Must Love Dogs" blog series again focuses on an illustrator.
Student Voices: Elisabeth Merrifield
Posted
My name is Elisabeth Merrifield. Yes, it is spelled with an 's' and not a 'z' mainly because my parents did not want me to be called 'Liz' (it did not work). I am a senior at the College. I am double majoring in government and history. I transferred in the Fall of 2015 and have loved it here. I play for the Gold Women's Club Volleyball team and love my team. They are outstanding and ridiculously smart people.
Student Voices: Shana Merker
Posted
Hiya everybody! I'm Shana Merker, a junior music and biology major, and I work as a student assistant in Content Services.
Student Voices: Carrie Yang
Posted
Hi everyone! My name is Zihan Yang, most people know me as Carrie. I'm an international student from China and this is my third year at William & Mary (how time flies). Back home, I love to spend my free time at my high school's library and the public library, so when I came to college, the first place I went to check out was the library. I immediately fell in love with our Swem library because it's so beautiful and resourceful.
Student Voices: CeeCee Bishop
Posted
Hello lovely people! My name is CeeCee and I'm a Student Associate in the Circulation department here at Swem.
Student Voices: Nic DeAngio
Posted
I started working at Swem in my very first week of freshman year and fell in love with the place immediately. On my first day, I wandered the library to fill out a scavenger-hunt-esque training exercise that introduced me to the labyrinth of books that serves as the cultural capital of our campus. The building really does it all.
Student Voices: Alexis Vitali
Posted
Hey, fellow Swem-goers! My name is Alexis and I have been working at Swem Circulation for over a year now. I started out as an assistant, shelving and sorting from the books needed for final papers. Last year, I was able to help deliver books to professors all over campus. And as it turns out, books can bring more excitement when you get to drive them in a golf-cart, trying not to get stuck behind tour groups (otherwise known as flamingos).
What Does A Research Librarian Do?
Posted
I became William & Mary Libraries' Science Librarian on December 25th, 2017. In my first four months of employment I've had several people (including my family members) ask me: "So what exactly does a science librarian do?" It's a great question!
World War I in the Everyday Experience
Posted
As an Exhibit Apprentice in Swem's Special Collections, I had the opportunity to curate a World War I centennial exhibit.
Student Voices: Alea Al-Aghbari
Posted
In my first two years at W&M, I rarely went to Swem. It was crowded and busy and stressful, and I preferred the coziness of my own room. But for the past year and a half, I have stepped into Swem hundreds of times, more than my freshman self could have possibly imagined.
Must Love Dogs: Cecil Aldin
Posted
Cecil Aldin (1870-1935) was a British artist and illustrator, famous for his portrayal of dogs.
Art + Feminism Wiki Edit-a-thon Returns
Posted
William & Mary Libraries is proud to bring back the Art+Feminism Wikipedia edit-a-thon on Tuesday, April 10 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday, April 11 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. during National Library Week.
Student Voices: Azana Carr
Posted
Hi, I'm Azana Carr, and I work as a student assistant for the W&M Libraries External Relations office. The best way to describe my job is: "You know all the events, workshops, and therapy dogs that happen in Swem? We do that!"
Handmade books and the Old Stile Press
Posted
Our collection of artists' books is ever-growing and teeming with innovative ways to redefine the traditional codex; the Old Stile Press is only a small introduction to the craftsmanship found hidden among our Special Collections.
Student Voices: Grace Aylor
Posted
Hi! My name is Grace and I've been working at the Swem Circulation desk for a little over a year now. If you come to Swem often enough you might know me as 'the girl with the bangs.' Even though it's only been a year, I am here so often now some of the full-time Swem staff are convinced that I've been here forever!
Special Collections Research Travel Grant
Posted
The Special Collections Research Center at Swem Library is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for travel grants!
Must Love Dogs: Knitting
Posted
If you've ever had a dog, you are no doubt aware of the amount of dog hair that accumulates on your floor, furniture, and clothes. There have likely been times when you have said something along the lines of "There's enough hair here to knit a sweater." Well, if you ever get the desire to gather up all of that hair for such a purpose, the Chapin-Horowitz Collection of Books on Dogs can hook you up with "Knitting with Dog Hair: A Woof-to-Warp