Bowdoin College Library

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Now Live! Bowdoin Digital Collections

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The Bowdoin College Library is pleased to announce the launch of a new platform, Bowdoin Digital Collections. This is the first step in bringing all of the Library’s Digital Collections & Projects into one system for access and preservation, including the contents of our previous system, Bowdoin Digital Commons, which was retired on February 17, 2025. Bowdoin Digital Collections provides improved searching of content, streamlined access to Library digital collections and projects, and a more responsive interface for use on mobile devices. Please contact Digital Archivist Meagan Doyle (mdoyle@bowdoin.edu) with any questions, including how to submit new materials.

BIPOC Book Display: The Black Artist

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The Black Artist PosterThe 2024-25 BIPOC Book Display, “The Black Artist,” curated by Neiman Mocombe ’26, opened with a kickoff event on Friday, September 27 at Hawthorne-Longfellow.

Curator’s Statement

Neiman Mocombe ’26
The Black Artist

This exhibition aims to exemplify, appreciate, and celebrate the individual accomplishments of black artists from the precolonial period to the present. Similar to how Edison, Beethoven, and Da Vinci are archetypes ingrained in our societal consciousness for what it means to be an inventor, artist, or icon – black people around the world have created invaluable objects, genres, and methods, which we commonly overlook, intentionally or passively.

The collection of books I have curated exemplifies the extraordinary tenacity, intellect, and resilience of black artists. The collection also tackles (broadly) what it means to be an artist. Since art as we know it is usually constricted into painting, sculpture, and drawing, I wanted to expand the possibilities of who could be considered an artist. For this reason, I have included works that showcase athletes, orators, academics, scientists, business tycoons, etc.

The achievements of these (black) individuals become even more remarkable when we consider that these artists accomplished them while enduring unimaginable levels of bigotry, violence, and animosity solely due to the color of their skin.

Through this exhibition, I hope you can learn that the world around you, the words you hear, and the things you see resulted from black creativity and, by extension, the black artist.

Book List

There is an online display of the collection in Compass.

BIPOC Book Display: Asian America and Asian Diasporas

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Several books by and about Asian and Asian American identities and experiences.The 2023-24 BIPOC Book Display, “Asian America and Asian Diasporas,” curated by Hannah Kim, ’24, opened with a kickoff event on Friday, October 13 at Hawthorne-Longfellow. You can watch a recording on Facebook of Hannah’s conversation with Carmen Greenlee, our Humanities and Media Librarian.

The display will be in place through the 2023-24 academic year.

This display also coincides with this year’s Asian American Reckonings.

Curator’s Statement by Hannah Kim

This display aims to share the vibrancy of newly released literatures by Asian American and Asian diasporic authors. It features a multi-genre range of creative expressions and focuses on marginalized groups within Asian American and Asian diasporic communities, including working class, queer, multiracial/multicultural, and adoptee narratives. Through their fiction, nonfiction, poetry, visual art, and hybrid/interdisciplinary works, the authors in this collection demonstrate unique modes of inquiry, investigation, and self-representation. Together, these titles touch upon a wide array of topics, such as personal and collective grief, climate and the natural world, mental health and racial justice, arts and entertainment, language and translation, immigration and labor, coming-of-age and intergenerational dialogue, social media and digital technology, and COVID-19 and communal repair.

Book list

There is an online display of the collection in Compass.

BIPOC Book Display: Latinidad, Identity, and Queer Love

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The Library’s 2022-23 BIPOC Collection, curated by Karla Lainez, ‘24, opened with a discussion with Karla on November 17. The video is on Facebook.

The display remained in place through the 2022-23 academic year.

Karla’s curator’s statement:

Hi! I am so happy you are here, browsing through the 2022 Fall BIPOC Collection focused on Latinidad, identity, and queer love at the Hawthorne-Longfellow Library.

My name is Karla Lainez, and I am a junior at Bowdoin College. When beginning to think about this collection and what to include within it, I knew I wanted it to have a variety of stories, experiences, and voices that celebrate and show our strength and humanity: the love, the struggles, the family, the humor, the joy, the care, and the empowerment. Often, the narrative is one of lack of power and autonomy, but we are strong, le echamos ganas, continually show up, and are here. Our experiences matter, and finding a character or person to relate to is so crucial. I also wanted to have books in the collection I wished I had growing up, as seeing parts of my identity, and that of my friends represented and honored in school didn’t occur. My identities as a queer Mexcian and Salvadoran American daughter of immigrants have had an impact on how connected I’ve been able to feel. Books on queer love and joy were never on the shelves, much less by Latine/a/o authors, which is why I can’t wait to read these. The younger version of me would have loved seeing these books in the library or recommended by a professor. I probably would have read more. So, I am so glad they can be added here, and I hope you can enjoy them too.

I’ve tried to include an author from each part of Latin America, recognizing that while we have many shared experiences that unite us as a community, our cultures and countries are unique. Additionally, these works will increase the number of books Bowdoin has by Latine/a/o authors within the library, which must continue and expand even after the display of this collection ends. This collection contains a variety of formats, from essays, poems, children’s books, fiction, and anthologies, to even films. It includes stories that aren’t highlighted enough, and experiences that deserve to be shared and heard. Finding a space where you feel seen, welcomed, and understood at a predominantly white institution like Bowdoin is hard. So, I hope that within these works, you find a piece that resonates with you, even if just a line.

Thank you 🙂

The book list:

Title Author
La Señora Varsovia Abend van Dalen, Raquel
The Poet X Acevedo, Elizabeth
Inheritance: A Visual Poem Acevedo, Elizabeth
Performing the US Latina and Latino borderlands Aldama, Artuo .
Violeta: A novel Allende, Isabel
The Woman I kept to myself Alvarez, Julia
In the time of the butterflies Alvarez, Julia
mala mala Antonio Santini, Dan Sickles
Borderlands: the new mestiza = la frontera Anzaldúa, Gloria
This bridge called my back: writings by radical women of color Anzaldúa, Gloria and Moraga, Cherrie
Tía Fortuna’s New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey Behar, Ruth
Fire from the Andes: Short Fiction by Women from Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru Benner, Susan and Leonard, Kathy
We Are Owed Brown, Ariana
Tengo una tía que no es monjita Cardoza, Melissa
13 Colors of the Honduran Resitance Cardoza, Melissa
So Far From God Castillo, Ana
The House on Mango Street Cisneros, Sandra
Caramelo Cisneros, Sandra
Reclaim the stars: 17 tales across realms & space Córdova, Zoraida
Latina Lesbian Writers and Authors Costa, María Colores
Halsey Street Coster, Naima
Homecoming queers : desire and difference in Chicana Latina cultural production Danielson, Marivel
Mango Moon de Anda, Diane
Kiwi de Posadas, Carmen
Cantoras De Robertis, Carolina
Vindictas: Cuentistas Latinoamericanas Delgado, Susy
Here Comes the Sun Dennis-Benn, Nicole
Ordinary Girls: A memoir Díaz, Jaquira
Islandborn Diaz, Junot
Boogie, Boogie, Yall Esperanza, C. G.
“Sabrina & Corina” Fajardo-Anstine, Kali
Brother, Sister, Mother, Explorer Figueroa, Jamie
Empanada: A Lesbiana Story en Probaditas Flores, Anel
Antonio’s card Gonzalaez, rigoberto
Calling the doves gonzales, grace cornell
All Around Us Gonzalez, Xelena
Olga Dies Dreaming Gonzalez, Xochitl
Catrachos Guzmán, Roy
The book of Unknown Americans Henriquez, Cristina
Mucha Muchacha, Too Much Girl Hernández Linares, Leticia
A Cup of Water Under My Bed Hernandez, Daisy
A Child Grows Up and Wonders Hernandez, Felicia O
American Dreamer Herrera, Adriana
Cafe con Lychee Lee, Emery
Fiebre Tropical Lopera, Julián Delgado
Cuentamelo Lopera, Julián Delgado
Peluda Lozada-Olivia, Melissa
Killing Marías: A Poem for Multiple Voices Luna, Claudia Catro
No Filter and Oher Lies Maldonado, Crystal
Our Shadows Have Claws Many
Wild Tounges Can’t Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora many
Ophelia After All Marie, Racquel
Alma and How She Got Her Name Martinez-Neal, Juana
Here the Whole Time Martins, Vitor
One of a kind like me Mayeno, Laurin
Lake Lore McLemore, Anna-Marie
Furia Mendez, Yamile
Mexican Gothic Moreno-Garcia, Silvia
Alicia and the Hurricane Newman, Leslea
What’s Coming To Me Padilla, Francesca
500 years Pamela Yates
Funeral for Flaca Prado, Emily
The Five Wounds Quade, Kirstin Valdez
Beauty Woke Ramos, NoNieqa
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School Reyes, Sonora
A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic Rigaud, Debbie
They Call Me Mix/Me Llaman Maestre Rivas, Lourdes
Juliet Takes a Breath Rivera, Gabby
America Vol. 1: The Life And Times Of America Chavez Rivera, Gabby
For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color Rodríguez, Prisca Dorcas Mojica
Aristotle and Dante Discover the secrets of the Universe Sáenz, Benjamin Alire
Hermosa Salgado, Yesika
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter Sanchez, Erika
With Lots of Love Sanchez, Jenny Toress
Una Mujer Fantastica Sebastián Lelio
Nameless Woman: An Anthology of Fiction by Trans Women of Color Selenite, Venus
Cemetery Boys Thomas, Aiden
Lotería Valenti, Karla
Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity Velez, Angela
Fifteen Hunded Miles From The Sun Villa, Jonny Garza
Las Malas Villada, Camila Sosa
The Grief Keeper Villasante, Alexandra
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina Zoraida Córdova

Pathways to Open: CBB Libraries and Open Access

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The Bowdoin Library is joining with colleagues at Bates and Colby to host a presentation on the ways in which we are supporting Open Access Publishing. Please join us on Tuesday, October 25th at noon for a discussion of Read and Publish agreements, models for open access across academic journals, and opportunities for making your work open access at no cost. This collaborative Zoom event will be held in the Nixon Lounge (3rd floor H-L Library) at noon, with lunch to follow. If you would like to join us in Nixon for the presentation and lunch, please RSVP by Tuesday, October 18 to Helen Hill, hhill@bowdoin.edu. If you would like to register for the Zoom presentation individually or have us send you a recording of it, please sign up here. If you have any questions, please contact Erin Valentino, evalenti@bowdoin.edu.

Spanish Language Children’s Books

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Spanish language children's books with Multilingual Mainers logo46 new Spanish language children’s books were added to the Bowdoin Library collection to support the work of students enrolled in Professor Margaret Boyle’s Teaching and Learning Languages and Cultures class and an honors project by Katharine Barrett, Class of 2023, Multilingualism and Community Engagement. 

The titles were purchased from La Librería, Los Angeles, CA, and support the work of Bowdoin-led Multilingual Mainers.

Title list

Title Author
Mi super familia : un libro animado Raisson, Gwendoline
Desde el tiempo de los abuelos : cuentos de la tradición oral maya Serrano Echeverría
El monstruo más feo del mundo Amavisca, Luis
Peque y yo Acosta
Cómo cocinar princesas Martínez Castillo, Ana
Luis & Jennifer en César Chávez & la máquina del tiempo Quezadas, Juan Carlos
Monstruo Rosa Dios, Olga de
El libro negro de los colores Cottin, Menena
Ni guau ni miau Lacasa, Blanca
Zoo de insectos Wheeler, Lisa
La niña de Guatemala Martí, José
No des puntada sin hilo Peña Muñoz, Manuel
El monstruo de colores Llenas, Anna
Mejores amigas (casi siempre) Danis, Naomi
Malena Ballena Calì, Davide
Niños de América Palacios, Francisca
Hoy me siento… de la A a la Z Moniz, Madalena
Poemas ilustrados Mistral, Gabriela
Los delfines del sur del mundo : cuento basado en un relato selk’nam Pavez, Ana María
Popol vuh : basado en el mito de creación maya quiché Pavez, Ana María
El niño y la ballena : cuento basado en un relato yámana Recabarren, Marcela
Papá está conectado Kemmeter, Philippe de
¿Qué es un refugiado? Gravel, Elise
¿De dónde eres? Álvarez Lata, Irene
De cómo nació la piñata Czernecki, Stefan
Un poco valiente Kinnear, Nicola
El elefante Desmond, Jenni
En la unión está la fuerza  : una historia de gallinas Cardon, Laurent
Coatlicue : Madre del Sol, la Luna y las estrellas Melgar, Juan Carlos
Un pelo en la sopa : un cuentito absurdo Nogués Otero, Alex
Será Calvo, Mercedes
Siete Pablos Luján, Jorge
Dos conejos blancos Buitrago, Jairo
El zorro Chuleta Undurraga, Sol
Mi papi tiene una moto Quintero, Isabel
Un árbol Mattioli, Rodrigo
Sabores de América Pavez, Ana María
Gilda : la oveja gigante Urberuaga, Emilio
Las dos Fridas Kahlo, Frida
Qué es la guerra Altarriba, Eduard
Migrantes Altarriba, Eduard
Totem : animales y civilizaciones Cassany, Mia
Los invisibles Percival, Tom
Tengo hambre Cottin, Menena
Mi abuelo el luchador Ramos, Antonio

New Seminar Room for Special Collections & Archives

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A new seminar room is coming to Hawthorne-Longfellow Library this summer!  To support Special Collections & Archives’ active instruction program, a 16-person seminar room will be constructed adjacent to the department, on the north side of the 3rd floor.  This dedicated space will significantly augment the ability of SC&A to meet the growing demands of its program, which reaches students and faculty across disciplines.

The room will provide

  • secure, dedicated space for class sessions in which special collections materials can be used safely in a classroom setting.
  • flexible, modular furniture to support a variety of instruction modes.
  • technology to support working with objects, including a large LCD panel and laptop connection, and a document camera to project and magnify materials.
  • a videoconferencing camera to support hybrid events and outside presentations.
  • an adjacent anteroom with cubbies, where students can leave their belongings before entering the seminar room.
  • an adjacent office/consultation space for the Special Collections Education and Engagement Librarian.

This project is the most recent of the library’s ongoing efforts to think creatively about how to mitigate the limitations of the current building.  We are continually balancing the competing needs of students, faculty, and staff, along with space for collections.  While the project will require the removal of a portion of shelving from the north side of the 3rd floor, we are extremely fortunate to have the library Annex at our disposal.  Librarians have reviewed the collections shelved on the floor and have identified approximately 7000 volumes for relocation.  As is the case for all materials shelved at the Annex, these volumes will be requestable through the catalog and typically available for pick up on campus within 24 hours.

Over the course of the summer, the 3rd floor will be shifted to rationalize the collections in call number order.  We do not anticipate any disruption in services while this work is underway.  The entire project—construction and collections shift—will be completed before the start of the coming academic year.

Any questions about the project can be directed to Marjorie Hassen, Director of the College Library.
mhassen@bowdoin.edu | (207) 725-3281