Language Schools Library Guide

Find Middlebury Library policies and procedures specific to Language School faculty needs.

We encourage you to submit purchase requests for the library collection.

Books, Films and More

How to request a purchase:

• To ask us to purchase a book, DVD, journal, or database for the library collections, please fill out the form at Request a Library Purchase. 
• If you want any items to be checked out for less than the usual student loan period of 28 days, please ask to have them put on reserve. Learn more at Reserves.
• If you have a list of requests, you may send the list to libacqreq@middlebury.edu. Unfortunately, we might not be able to provide status updates for requests submitted in a list.

Deadline:

• Please submit purchase requests by May 15, 2024 -- or earlier! -- so that we can make sure materials are available to students at the beginning of the term.

Streaming Video

How to request a purchase:

• To ask us to purchase a streaming video for the library collections, please fill out the form at Request a Library Purchase. 
• To renew access to a film you’ve streamed in the past, visit Streaming FAQ (use your Middlebury login).
• If you have a list of requests, please send the list to libacqreq@middlebury.edu only if you’ve asked for the videos before. For new acquisitions of film, including alternate editions or streaming versions, please fill out the form at Request a Library Purchase. 

Deadline:

• Please submit purchase requests by May 15, 2024 -- or earlier! -- so that we can make sure materials are available to students at the beginning of the term.

Books and DVDs

• Most items that you check out will be due at the end of the summer.  
• DVDs have a loan period of 2 weeks
• Books in the Browsing collection have a loan period of no more than 28 days.

Equipment

• Laptops:  These are available at the Circulation Desk at the Davis Family Library and may be borrowed by faculty or staff for the summer term.
• Media equipment (for example, cameras, tripods, camcorders, projectors, microphones)
  • From the library:  Most items that you check out will be due in 3 days. The loan period can be adjusted slightly as needed.
  • From Media Services (ITS):  Media Services may have media equipment that can be borrowed for the entire summer. Ask helpdesk@middlebury.edu.

Interlibrary Loan

• Most items that you check out will be due at the end of the summer.  
• Visit Interlibrary Loan for advice and a link to a request form.

Library Orientation Sessions

• You can attend a library orientation session online via Zoom at the beginning of the summer. These sessions introduce students, faculty and staff to library materials in foreign languages within and beyond our library collections. 
• Check online for the schedule and to register.

Library Orientation Video Recordings

• Library orientation video recordings cover the same content as live orientation sessions, but you can pause and rewatch them. We've divided our hour-long session into four segments:  1) Library basics and library spaces, 2) Using LibrarySearch, 3) Interlibrary Loan and the research guides, and 4) Newspapers, magazines, and video. Each segment is bookmarked for quick access to the content you need.
• Watch library orientation video recordings online.

Self-Guided Library Tours

• Self-guided tour brochures are available at the Research Desk whenever the Davis Family Library is open. They highlight library spaces including language browsing collections, group study rooms, and places where you can get help.
• Visit the Research Desk to meet a librarian! Find hours and contact information at Ask Us.

Zotero Citation Management Software Training

• Zotero citation management software training sessions are held in person (with an online-only  option) at the beginning of the summer term. They teach students, faculty and staff how to use Zotero to create notes and bibliographies.
• Check online for the schedule and to register.
• For a self-guided introduction to Zotero, visit our guide.

Special Collections Open Houses and Class Visits

• Special Collections open houses and class visits can be held in person upon request. They offer an introduction to rare books and archives.
• Request a Special Collections open house or class visit by contacting specialcollections@middlebury.edu.

You may recall that before the pandemic, the library had begun a project to review its circulating collections in order to remove outdated print books and books no longer needed for the curriculum and research. The work slowed considerably when COVID struck, and library staff are now resuming the pace. There’s a lot more information in the original announcement describing the project, and on the site for the project itself. 

We invite faculty feedback on our deselection decisions. If you’d like to be notified when title lists in your areas of interest are ready for review, please request that here.

Faculty in the Middlebury Language Schools at Bennington should also consult this guide:

•  Middlebury at Bennington Information Gateway:  Library and Tech Resources for Middlebury Language Schools at Bennington College.