Goldfarb Library

Goldfarb Library is a major research library located at Brandeis University, serving the academic community of Massachusetts and beyond, with a rich collection of materials on World War II, Cold War, and American history, including works by Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, and Joseph Nye. The library is named after Alumni Association member Myra Kraft and Robert Kraft's friend, Maurice Goldfarb, and has been supported by National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Goldfarb Library has collaborated with Harvard University Library, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries, and Boston Public Library to provide access to a vast array of resources, including JSTOR, ProQuest, and EBSCO Information Services.

● History

The history of Goldfarb Library dates back to the founding of Brandeis University in 1948 by Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rabbi Louis Brandeis, with the library initially housed in the Usen Castle building, and later moving to its current location, which was designed by Eero Saarinen and I.M. Pei. Over the years, the library has undergone several renovations and expansions, including a major renovation in the 1990s, supported by Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Sloan Foundation. The library has also been a member of the Association of Research Libraries, Boston Library Consortium, and OCLC, and has participated in projects with Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, and Smithsonian Institution.

● Architecture

The architecture of Goldfarb Library is a notable example of Modern architecture, with a design that incorporates Brutalist architecture elements, similar to those found in buildings designed by Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius. The library's building features a unique atrium design, with a large skylight that provides natural light to the interior spaces, and has been compared to the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. The library's exterior is clad in granite and brick, with a façade that features a portico entrance, similar to those found in buildings designed by I.M. Pei and Richard Meier. The building has been recognized for its design excellence by the American Institute of Architects, Boston Society of Architects, and National Trust for Historic Preservation.

● Collections

The collections of Goldfarb Library are diverse and extensive, with over 1.5 million volumes, including rare books and manuscripts, such as the Gutenberg Bible and works by William Shakespeare, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Fyodor Dostoevsky. The library's collections also include a significant number of databases, e-journals, and digital collections, such as JSTOR, Project MUSE, and Google Books, as well as resources from ProQuest, EBSCO Information Services, and Oxford University Press. The library has also partnered with HathiTrust Digital Library, Internet Archive, and Digital Public Library of America to provide access to a wide range of digital resources, including works by Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein.

● Services

The services offered by Goldfarb Library are designed to support the academic and research needs of the Brandeis University community, including interlibrary loan services, research assistance, and instructional services, similar to those offered by Harvard University Library and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries. The library also provides access to a range of technology resources, including computers, printers, and scanners, as well as software and databases from Microsoft, Adobe Systems, and SAS Institute. The library has also partnered with Turnitin, EndNote, and Zotero to provide tools and resources to support academic research and writing, and has collaborated with Council of Independent Colleges, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Association of American Universities to promote academic excellence.

● Location

Goldfarb Library is located on the campus of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, near Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is accessible by MBTA and Amtrak. The library is situated near other academic and research institutions, including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Tufts University, and has partnered with Boston Library Consortium and Northeastern University to provide access to a wide range of resources and services, including those from Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, and Smithsonian Institution. The library's location also provides opportunities for collaboration and research with institutions such as Broad Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Category:Libraries in Massachusetts