Library

Eastern advances open pedagogy

Nicolas Simon, professor of sociology at Eastern Connecticut State University, has spent the better part of the last decade championing open educational resources (OERs) on and off campus. These...

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Noel Teter '24

Watch: Students digitize history during Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon

With laptops in hand, Eastern joined a worldwide effort to digitize history on Feb. 20 during the Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon. The annual, international effort honors Black history by empowering...

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Savannah Striano '25

Medieval artifacts find home in University archives
Eastern acquires 800-year-old manuscripts

A curation effort by a team of faculty members at Eastern Connecticut State University recently brought two medieval artifacts to the University Archives and Special Collections. Located on the...

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Elisabeth Craig ’26

Library research awards honor outstanding scholarship
Projects span globalization in Russia, depression, revisionist history, and pre-term birth

The J. Eugene Smith Library's 2025 Library Research Awards honored four students for outstanding scholarship on May 16. Seniors Emma McCormack and Saoirse Ward received the awards, while...

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Big Read aims to connect readers to local environment
Months-long community reading program centered on 'The Bear'

Eastern Connecticut State University’s 2024-25 Big Read program kicked off on Sept. 18 with a presentation on the months-long series's themes, goals and events. The event was presented...

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Darlene Orozco B.

Upcoming Big Read program connects communities to 'where we live'
NEA-funded program will explore New England-based novel ‘The Bear’

Eastern Connecticut State University is the only organization in Connecticut to receive a Big Read award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for the 2024-25 academic year. Following the...

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Michael Rouleau

ECSU Foundation gifts benefit 3 programs on campus

Three programs at Eastern Connecticut State University — in Connecticut history, career services and summer transition — will benefit from recent gifts to the ECSU Foundation.

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

New York Times joins library's collection of free news sources

The New York Times is the latest complimentary subscription available to Eastern students, faculty and staff, joining the J. Eugene Smith Library’s collection of other free online news...

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Elisabeth Craig

History majors uncover lost relics in Willimantic Town Hall

Eastern history majors and members of the History Club uncovered centuries worth of historical documents in the top floors of the Willimantic Town Hall at the conclusion of the spring 2023 semester.

Posted on October 04, 2023 by Elisabeth Craig

Library research awards go to 4 students

Two Eastern Connecticut State University students won undergraduate research awards from the J. Eugene Smith Library this spring, and two others were cited for honorable mention.

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Individuals present as 'books' at Human Library

Eastern Connecticut State University’s J. Eugene Smith Library recently provided students with an opportunity to learn about social issues in a more intimate way than reading about them. The...

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Noel Teter

CSCU President Terrence Cheng speaks at Eastern Connecticut State University.

‘What qualifies as American?’
CSCU President Terrence Cheng dissects model minority stereotype in ‘Big Read’ talk

Eastern kicked off its National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) ‘Big Read’ program on Oct. 27 with a talk by Terrence Cheng, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities...

Posted on November 02, 2022 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern to kick off ‘Big Read’ with book talk by CSCU President Terrence Cheng
This year's community reading program to explore 'Interior Chinatown'

Eastern Connecticut State University is one of 62 communities nationwide to receive a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant for 2022-23 year. Eastern will host a series of events...

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Michael Rouleau

Art major wins Eastern’s Library Research Award

Isabel Butterick ’21, of Willimantic, who majored in Art with a Studio Art concentration and a minor in Art History, has been named the recipient of this year’s annual J. Eugene Smith...

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern to host 'Human Library'

The J. Eugene Smith Library in partnership with the Office of Equity and Diversity and the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing will host a "human library" on April 12 from 1-5 p.m. Eastern...

Posted on April 04, 2022 by Bobbi Brown

Thi Bui and her book, "The Best We Could Do."

Thi Bui speaks about ‘The Best We Could Do’
Graphic memoir is Eastern’s 2021 Big Read selection

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted Thi Bui, author of “The Best We Could Do,” on Nov. 11 as part of the University’s “Big Read” program. Eastern is one of 61...

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

‘Big Read’ program kicks off with ‘The Artist as Witness’
Art exhibition is visual companion to graphic novel ‘The Best We Could Do’

Eastern Connecticut State University will kick off its National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read program with the exhibition “The Artist as Witness” from Oct. 18 – Feb. 01,...

Posted on October 12, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern partners in AAC&U-sponsored open educational resources project

Eastern Connecticut State University was recently selected to participate in an Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) project to accelerate the development and adoption of...

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Campus Briefs

Sierra Club names Eastern a 'Cool School’; Eastern partners in AAC&U-sponsored open educational resources project; Big Read kicks off in October with program centered around...

Posted on September 27, 2021

Eastern’s Big Read program to begin Fall events

Eastern Connecticut State University is one of 61 organizations nationwide selected to receive a 2021-22 Big Read grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The grant of $20,000 —...

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Bobbi Brown

Eastern employs therapy puppies to sooth back-to-campus anxiety

After hearing concerns from faculty, staff and students about returning to campus this fall and holding on-ground classes during the continuing pandemic, Eastern Connecticut State University found...

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Ed Osborn

Library Research Awards recognize 4 Eastern student projects

Eastern Connecticut State University’s J. Eugene Smith Library recently announced the winners of its 9th annual Library Research Awards. This year’s awards recognize four exemplary...

Posted on June 08, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern hosts Diversity and Inclusion Week

From April 12-16, Eastern Connecticut State University’s Student Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Committee sponsored a week of in-person and virtual events to raise public awareness and...

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Presidential portrait of Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley.

Library exhibit celebrates Black painters

Eastern Connecticut State University’s J. Eugene Smith Library is honoring Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, with a virtual exhibit commemorating Black...

Posted on February 08, 2021 by Molly Boucher

CircleIn app allows students to study together while apart

The Academic Success Center at Eastern Connecticut State University is partnering with CircleIn, a free, peer-to-peer studying app, to empower students and help them solve difficult problems together.

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Open educational resources lighten financial burden for students

In the face of soaring costs for textbooks and the financial burdens caused by COVID-19, a number of Eastern Connecticut State University faculty and staff are providing a more economical and...

Posted on January 07, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Academic Success Center adjusts for fall 2020 semester

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Academic Success Center (ASC) provides students with services ranging from tutoring to advice on class selections. Found in the J. Eugene Smith Library...

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Molly Boucher

Eastern wins NEA grant to host Big Read in Windham

Eastern Connecticut State University has been named a recipient of a $15,000 grant to host the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read in Windham. The University is one of 84 nonprofit...

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Dwight Bachman

An Eastern student facilitates the hand decoration station.

Eastern Celebrates ‘Read Across America' Day

As part of “National Read Across America Day” on March 2, Eastern Connecticut State University student volunteers from the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) teamed up with four...

Posted on March 04, 2020 by Vania Galicia

Kevin Corcoran speaks on Open Educational Resources during workshop for Eastern students.

Open Education Resources: Alternative Learning Sources for Students

The movement to help Eastern students find more economical ways to access learning subject matter picked up momentum on Feb. 11 when Kevin Corcoran, executive director of digital learning for the...

Posted on February 13, 2020 by Dwight Bachman

Faculty Cut Textbook Expenses with ‘Open Education Resources’

Three Eastern Connecticut State University professors will help their students save a significant amount of money on textbooks this fall due to CSCU-funded grant project. Nicolas Simon, assistant...

Posted on August 01, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Award winners Malvina Pietrzykowski ’19, Kimberly Mines ’17 and Isabella Rossi ’17 with Eastern President Elsa Nunez

Three Students Win Library Research Awards

Three Eastern students were recognized at the sixth annual Library Research Awards at the conclusion of the 2016-17 academic year.

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern Welcomes Novelist to Campus

Eastern Connecticut State University writer’s series presented novelist Ruchama King Feuerman in a public reading and Q&A in Eastern’s Student Center on Oct. 27.

Posted on November 02, 2016 by Christina Rossomando