ABSTRACT

The Matt Cole Memorial Library may be the oldest library of its kind, at least in the Northeast, and at a small liberal arts college. As part of the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies, it is an environmental library physically separated from the central campus library. Unlike several other satellite libraries, this collection is interdisciplinary in focus, bringing environmental policy, law, history, land use, and conservation of natural resources together with those areas of environmental concern that are very definitely of a scientific and technical nature. Although not a science library, there is a substantial amount of scientific material in the collection. However, the emphasis is on making connections amongst the various disciplines as they apply to these environmental issues, rather than building a library around one area of scientific endeavor.