It’s early morning, and a heavy fog lingers across the Upper Valley. From across Lebanon, sixth graders start arriving at school, knowing they’ll soon leave for Hanover to explore the history of the written word at Dartmouth Libraries Rauner Special Collections Library. Inside Rauner Library, staff start their workday. Lamps turn on, casting a warm glow across a vast space; arranged displays showcase unique and awe-inspiring items from the archives; and staff double-check carts loaded with historical documents, books, and other ephemera for the classes, researchers, and visitors who will soon arrive. This day is like most days, but with one slight difference. Morgan Swan, Special Collections Librarian for Teaching and Scholarly Engagement, makes some final adjustments as he and his colleagues ready the classroom (and the items they’ll highlight) to welcome the kids from Lebanon Middle School.
Collaborating on Outreach
The visit from Lebanon Middle School is one of many that happen across the year and one of many more that Morgan designs and facilitates, starting 13 years ago. Groups arrive from across New Hampshire and beyond to attend curated sessions meant to spark curiosity and discovery. Collaborators like Heather Drinan, Dartmouth's Director of State Government Relations and Community Engagement in the Division of Community and Campus Life, and Theresa Westgate, Six Grade Spruce Team Social Studies Teacher from Lebanon Middle School, are key to these visits’ success. When Theresa, a long-time Upper Valley resident, started working at the school, she realized Dartmouth was an “untapped resource” for the local community. She adds that Lebanon is “incredibly diverse with families from across the globe, so showcasing what’s locally available helps them see what resources are at their fingertips.” Middle school students, who might otherwise feel intimidated, experience just how exciting the special collections are. Morgan’s genuine enthusiasm ensures that our visitors not only leave with new knowledge but also a real connection to Dartmouth’s history. Heather Drinan, Director of State Government Relations and Community Engagement
Empowering Lifelong Learners
Depending on participants’ age, they may or may not realize they’re also building information literacy and research skills. For the sixth graders, says Morgan, “they take a formative step in honing their research interests as future scholars and lifelong learners and researchers.” Theresa explains that grade six social studies starts with ancient civilizations and cuneiform through to the advent of paper, writing, and print. This intersects with the history of trade, trade routes, and more, “allowing kids to see how writing impacted and influenced society and cultures over time.”
Opening Access
Morgan’s goal is to “dismantle any perceived barriers to access when welcoming community members to explore items in the archives and the Libraries,” says Jennifer Taxman, Associate Dean of Libraries, Academic Engagement & Operations Strategies. By showcasing “cool” and “fascinating” archival items that relate to each group’s interests, the students “connect with the materials and their historical contexts through engaging storytelling and hands-on activities in a welcoming space,” says Heather. Morgan hopes that by “demystifying the collections, students leave knowing that what Rauner Library offers is just as much for them as for Dartmouth’s researchers.” It’s fun all around! Everyone is learning all at the same time. When they get to Rauner Library, the students are so enamored and blown away by the documents they get to see. Theresa Westgate, Lebanon Middle School Sixth Grade Social Studies Teacher
Expanding Educational Impact
It’s these special collections that become the focus of Lebanon Middle School’s trip and also for junior high school students who annually travel from Hanover’s sister city, Nihonmatsu, Japan, to Dartmouth. “This early exposure helps foster a lifelong love of learning and research while supporting meaningful connections with our global and regional communities,” Heather writes. “The experiences are inclusive and inspiring, even when there may be language barriers.” For the students from Nihonmatsu, their visit includes exploring materials on Asakawa Kan’ichi, class of 1899 and the first graduate of Asian descent at Dartmouth.
Since collaborating on these visits to Dartmouth two years ago, Theresa continues to grow the program to include other intriguing and engaging spaces at Dartmouth. “It’s fun all around! Everyone is learning all at the same time. When they get to Rauner Library, the students are so enamored and blown away by the documents they get to see, using magnifying glasses to deeply inspect and examine the pieces. They ask lots of questions, and Morgan is fantastic about how he approaches the kids and is a great teacher, asking them great questions in return.”
**photos courtesy of Dartmouth | Katie Lenhart
