Library Services
About the Library
The Library connects the Simmons College community to information, discovery, and learning. In partnership with the faculty and staff, the Library supports teaching and learning and students' development as lifelong learners. The Library's collections, services, and resources support the curriculum, and library staff is available to assist you with researching topics, finding materials, using our course reserves system, and anything else you may need.
The entrance to Beatley Library is located on Level One of Lefavour Hall on Simmons College's main campus. Library collections and services are located on all three levels of the Library.
The Library offers a comfortable and productive environment for learning. Group Study Rooms provide spaces to collaborate on projects and coursework, while other areas allow for quiet individual studying. The Library features 150 computer workstations, including Windows computers, Apple computers, and Express Web Stations. Wireless access is available throughout the building, and laptops can be checked out and used in the Library.
The first floor of the Library features several service desks designed to support you in your academic coursework.
- the Reference Desk provides assistance with researching topics and using Library resources
- the Circulation Desk assists with checking out Library materials, including reserves and interlibrary loans;
- the Technology Desk supports your use of computers and software programs;
- the Writing Center offers one-on-one tutoring and workshops to strengthen your academic reading, writing, critical thinking, and research skills
The College Library Website (www.simmons.edu/library) provides you with resources designed to support student learning. Over 5,200 electronic journals and databases can be accessed through the home page or at http://simmons.libguides.com/a-zlist. Also, research assistance guides specific to courses or topics can be found at http://simmons.libguides.com/home. Information on accessing course reserves is available at https://libfs3.simmons.edu/ares/.
Librarians are available to help you with research questions by chat, email, or text message at http://www.simmons.edu/library/ask/index.php. Librarians are also available at 617-521-2784, in person at the Reference Desk, or you can make an appointment to meet individually with a Liaison Librarian.
The Simmons Library collections include over 225,000 books, 72,000 journals in print and/or electronic format, over 150 electronic databases, and online full text access to over 25,000 books. The Library also holds 8,000 videotape, audio, and DVD titles that are available for borrowing or for viewing and listening in the Media Viewing and Listening Room.
For news and updates on Library services, resources, and events, you can follow the Library on Facebook (www.facebook.com/simmonslibrary) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/simmonslibrary), or check the Library's home page.
The Simmons College Archives is located on Level Two of Beatley Library and houses a collection of college records, publications, manuscripts, photographs, and rare books that document the history and development of Simmons College. Additional materials highlight related subject areas, including women's education and social welfare. More information on the Archives and its collections can be found at http://www.simmons.edu/library/archives ; staff can be reached at archives@simmons.edu or 617-521-2441.
Borrowing Policies
Student may borrow Library materials by presenting their Simmons ID cards. New students can activate their Library accounts at the Circulation Desk. The Library also offers online loan renewal and a self check-out station.
Students may also borrow materials from libraries worldwide through the Library's Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service: https://libfs3.simmons.edu/illiad/.
Simmons students may borrow most circulating materials for 28 days, with renewals allowed. All circulating materials are subject to recall immediately if an instructor requests that they be put on reserve or after two weeks if another student requests the material.
Students are responsible for returning materials on time. The Library sends notices to students' Simmons e-mail addresses, reminding them of overdue materials. Items that are returned late are not subject to a fine, unless the item is on reserve. Late reserve materials are fined at a rate of 25 cents per hour.
Once an item is 25 days overdue, the replacement cost—currently $30 per item—of the non-returned items is billed to the student. If the bill is not paid by the end of the following month, the charge will be added to the student's account, and the fee should be paid at the Cashier's Window. Students are not able to register for class, receive transcripts, or graduate until all library fees are cleared.
Students should also be aware that certain actions such as failing to respond to recall notices, or concealing, deliberately misshelving, mutilating, or stealing any library materials, constitute violations of the College's Honor Code. If found guilty, the student will be subject to Honor Board sanctions. Additionally, Massachusetts law imposes criminal penalties on individuals who steal, mutilate, alter, destroy, or fail to return books or other library materials and property (see Massachusetts General Laws ch. 266 §§99, 99A, and 100).
Hours of Operation
Beatley Library hours of operation:
| Mon - Thurs | 7:30am - 12:00am |
| Friday | 7:30am - 8:00pm |
| Saturday | 8:00am - 8:00pm |
| Sunday | 10:00am - 12:00am |
Hours vary during summer sessions, intersessions, and holidays.
A Simmons ID is required for building entry after 7:00pm Monday — Friday, after 5:00pm on Saturday, and all day on Sunday.
College Archives hours of operation:
| Mon - Fri | 8:30am - 4:30pm, and by appointment |
| Sat- Sun | closed |
| Holidays | closed |
Fenway Library Consortium
In addition to Simmons College libraries' resources, by presenting their Simmons ID, students may borrow materials from members of the Fenway Library Consortium, which include: Brookline Public Library, Emerson College, Emmanuel College, Hebrew College, Lesley University, Massachusetts College of Art, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Museum of Fine Arts, New England Conservatory, New England Institute of Art, Roxbury Community College, Suffolk University, University of Massachusetts Boston, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Wheelock College. With their combined resources, the cooperating Fenway Consortium libraries provide their members with access to more than one million books and print/electronic journals.
Daphne Harrington, Director
617-521-2754
http://www.simmons.edu/library
