The Beneficial-Hodson
Library's mission is to support the
curricular and informational needs of the Hood community by providing
appropriate library resources, instruction, and assistance in a timely manner.
The outstanding library facility and its dedicated staff provide the ideal
setting for promoting and nurturing academic inquiry and scholarship.
The Beneficial-Hodson
Library and Information Technology Center is located in a comfortably-appointed, Georgian-style brick building,
which was dedicated in 1992. Situated at the College’s main entrance, it was
named for Clarence Hodson, founder of the Beneficial Finance Company and the
Hodson Trust. The building is home to a modern academic library, as well as the
administrative center for the Maryland Interlibrary Consortium,
Beneficial-Hodson Computing Center, and the Amelia Hernandez Computer
Laboratory.
The 57,000 square-foot structure has a book capacity of 200,000 volumes and a
modern telecommunications network infrastructure, including a tie-in to the
campus wireless network. Collections, student reading and study areas, and
staff offices are conveniently arranged and beautifully furnished, creating an
inviting learning environment.
The library successfully integrates information technology with traditional
library services and materials. It currently holds 185,000 volumes and
subscribes to over 300 print and microform periodical titles. It also provides electronic access to over
45,000 e-book titles. Some 40,000 additional periodical titles can be accessed via the World Wide Web through
numerous subscription databases. These and other computer-based resources may
be consulted at the many in-house computer workstations or, wirelessly, from
personal laptops and other devices, and nearly all are available from remote
locations, as well. Video and audio collections are stored in the audio-visual
center, with playback equipment for student use.
The library houses the Hood College Archives and Special Collections, using
compact shelving in a controlled environment room. The Hood College Museum, a
branch of the Archives, is also located within the Library. In addition, the facility boasts a book
conservation laboratory where books are repaired and rebound to extend their
usefulness for all members of the Hood community.
A helpful, friendly, dedicated and knowledgeable staff
is available to help you with your information needs, whether it be for
locating a book or journal article, planning the research for a paper,
obtaining materials from other libraries if an item is needed that we do not
have at Hood, or assisting a faculty member with instruction in the resources
relating to a specific discipline. No request for information is too small or too large. We are available to assist you in person, by
phone, via e-mail, and, during scheduled reference hours, by chat, and we hope
that you will make use of the wonderful resources-both human and material-that
we provide through the Library!