As we enter a new century, nothing is more important than learning how we can work together within our own communities and with the citizens of other communities around the world, to address enduring challenges of inequality, injustice, environmental degradation, and racial and ethnic conflict. In order to do so, we need to develop a complex understanding of the strengths and limitations of our democratic and economic institutions, as well as master skills of communication, conflict negotiation and civic technology.
The Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy is a multidisciplinary, academic center that is dedicated to teaching, research, and community collaborations that foster active citizenship and community leadership in a multicultural, democratic society. Directed by an advisory board composed of college and community representatives, the Center oversees four major areas: 1) The Program in Community Action (PICA), 2) Community Learning Course Development, 3) College-Community Partnerships, and 4) Public Policy. With the Center’s guidance, students, faculty, staff, community members, and alumni work together in a spirit of reciprocal learning and community enhancement.
The books and archival collections in Special Collections exist to provide resources and support for scholarly work by Connecticut College faculty and students. They lend a unique distinction to the Library beyond the strength of the circulating collections, the variety of electronic resources and the research assistance provided by the library staff. The resources of Special Collections are also open to researchers from outside the college.
In addition to books, such as the Helen Gildersleeve children's collection and the Kelmscott Press collection, the resources of the department include the Chu-Griffis Asian Art Collection and an impressive assortment of papers, letters and manuscripts. Researchers from around the world use the Sheaffer-O'Neill Archives, which were acquired from Eugene O'Neill's biographer, Louis Sheaffer. The papers of poet William Meredith and the Rachel Carson material used by Carson's biographer Linda Lear have also attracted the interest of scholars.