This statement of principles serves to guide an exhibit program for Springfield College’s Library Services for the College Museum in the Stitzer Welcome Center at Judd Gymnasium and the exhibit spaces in the Learning Commons (1st floor, Karpovich Room and YMCA Hall of Fame). These principles align with Springfield College’s mission, educational goals, and community values.
The exhibit program supports the sharing, interpretation and promotion of library collections and also college history and scholarship. Exhibits aim to support Library Services and the College Archives & Special Collection’s role as an academic hub of the College. Exhibits may also support the College mission in the form of traveling or off-site exhibits.
Springfield College students and faculty are the primary audience for exhibits and also potential exhibit creators. Additional stakeholders and core audiences for the exhibit program include College staff, alumni and visitors and the College’s institutional partners.
All exhibit proposals are considered in the context of these four guiding principles:
Exhibits are entry points into the extensive and varied resources and services provided by Library Services, including but not limited to a variety of primary sources housed in Archives & Special Collections. Items included in exhibits are primarily from the College collections and supplemented, as appropriate, with materials from other sources. While we do not typically develop or host exhibits with the principal purpose of promoting organizations outside Springfield College, we collaborate on exhibits with organizations with historical and institutional connections to Springfield College (for instance, the International YMCA and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame).
Exhibits highlight our collections and the scholarship enabled by Library Services staff, collections and digital sources. Exhibits are managed by Library Services staff. Springfield College students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to collaborate with each other on exhibits.
Library Services seeks to facilitate exhibits that enable self-paced exploration, enjoyment, and learning. Exhibits provide an opportunity to educate, raise awareness of our institutional missions, educational goals, and community values. Exhibits enable Library Services to share collections, celebrate achievements, and highlight connections across campus.
We aim to offer varied exhibits, with diverse perspectives and content, so that a range of voices and conversations can emerge. To enable this diversity, exhibits may be curated internally or in partnership with campus departments/offices. We assess the effectiveness of exhibit activities and use results to plan and improve future exhibits.
Library Services strives to create exhibits that are inclusive and accessible to all. All exhibits are open to the public and free of charge. Exhibits in the College Museum are open during the same hours as the Stitzer Welcome Center at Judd Gymnasium, unless otherwise specified. Exhibits on the first floor of the Learning Commons are open daily. We aim for universal design and aspire to provide accommodations. Exhibits should enable all people to feel welcome regardless of their interest in or need to conduct research.
Exhibits should present accurate content and provide pathways to deeper research and inquiry when possible. We acknowledge that human bias and the individual perspectives of creators are embedded in all interpretative work, including exhibits. Library Services strives to be transparent about the perspectives we bring to exhibits and are eager for conversations during planning, display, and assessment of exhibits.
Exhibits are pathways to scholarly interpretation and creative engagement that can be embedded in and enrich the Springfield College curriculum.
Exhibits may highlight scholarship generated by Springfield College students, faculty, and staff, and Library Services' role in that work/process. Springfield College students, faculty and staff are potential partners for exhibits.