Snell Library

Snell Library is a major research library located at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, serving as a central hub for Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology students, as well as the broader Boston community, including Tufts University and Boston University. The library is named after George Snell, a renowned Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, who was also a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researcher, and is part of the Association of Research Libraries, which includes institutions like Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley. As a member of the Boston Library Consortium, Snell Library collaborates with other prominent libraries, such as the Boston Public Library and the Library of Congress, to provide access to a vast array of resources, including those from MIT Libraries and Harvard Library. The library's collections and services are also utilized by students from Boston College and University of Massachusetts Boston.

● History

The history of Snell Library dates back to the early 20th century, when Northeastern University was founded by Frank Palmer Speare, who was also a United States Army veteran and a World War I hero, and Ellen Swallow Richards, a prominent Massachusetts Institute of Technology chemist and Women's Education Association member. The library was initially housed in a small building on the university's campus, but it quickly outgrew its space and was relocated to a new facility in the 1950s, during the presidency of Asa S. Knowles, who was also a United States Navy veteran and a World War II hero. Over the years, the library has undergone several renovations and expansions, including a major renovation in the 1990s, which was supported by National Science Foundation grants and Institute of Museum and Library Services funding, and was designed by Shepley Bulfinch, a renowned architectural firm that has also worked with Harvard University and Yale University. Today, Snell Library is a state-of-the-art research library that serves as a central hub for the Northeastern University community, including students from Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania.

● Architecture

The architecture of Snell Library is a blend of modern and traditional styles, with a striking glass and steel façade that reflects the Boston skyline, including the Prudential Tower and the Hancock Tower. The library's design was inspired by the works of famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and I.M. Pei, who designed the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and the Louvre Pyramid, respectively. The building features a spacious atrium with a skylight that provides natural light and offers stunning views of the Charles River, which is also visible from the Esplanade and the Museum of Science. The library's interior is equipped with modern furniture and technology, including computers and printers from Hewlett-Packard and Dell, and features a variety of study spaces, including quiet rooms and group study areas, that are also available at New York Public Library and Los Angeles Public Library. The building is also home to the Northeastern University archives, which include rare manuscripts and documents from the American Civil War and World War I, similar to those found at the National Archives and Records Administration.

● Collections

The collections at Snell Library are diverse and extensive, with over 1.5 million volumes and a wide range of digital resources, including e-books and databases from JSTOR and EBSCO Information Services. The library's collections include materials on a variety of subjects, such as business and economics, engineering and computer science, health sciences and nursing, and humanities and social sciences, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary research and collaboration with institutions like Columbia University and University of Chicago. The library is also a Federal Depository Library, providing access to government documents and information from the United States Government Printing Office and the National Technical Information Service. In addition, the library offers a range of special collections, including rare books and manuscripts from the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the British Library, as well as archival materials from the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

● Services

The services offered by Snell Library are designed to support the research and academic needs of the Northeastern University community, including students from University of Massachusetts Amherst and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The library provides a range of services, including research assistance and instruction from librarians who are experts in their fields, similar to those at University of California, Los Angeles and University of Michigan. The library also offers technology support and equipment lending, including laptops and tablets from Apple and Microsoft, as well as scanners and printers from Epson and Canon. In addition, the library provides a variety of study spaces and collaboration areas, including quiet rooms and group study areas, that are also available at New York University and University of Southern California. The library is also a member of the Boston Library Consortium, which provides access to a shared catalog and interlibrary loan services with institutions like Brandeis University and Tufts University.

● Location

Snell Library is located in the heart of the Northeastern University campus, near the Fenway and Back Bay neighborhoods of Boston, and is within walking distance of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The library is easily accessible by public transportation, including the MBTA Green Line and Orange Line, which also connect to Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The library's location provides stunning views of the Boston skyline, including the Prudential Tower and the Hancock Tower, and is close to other prominent institutions, such as Boston University and Emerson College. The library is also near the Charles River, which offers beautiful views and walking paths, similar to those found along the Seine River in Paris and the Thames River in London.