Good Library
September 18, 2025
Students ‘filling the space’ in the renovated library
The Harold and Wilma Good Library, which was closed for renovations for most of the summer, reopened on Aug. 25, just in time for the first day of classes. What visitors to the library may notice first is the removal of a large section of the front desk area; what they may not immediately see are improvements higher up. “We redid the ceiling, which was actually the messiest and most noticeable part of the entire renovation,” said Fritz Hartman, director of the library. The goal was to make the entrance area more open and inviting. New features, such as updates...
February 20, 2025
Good Library: more than books
Collections of books and places to study are often what define college libraries — there’s nothing like finding a place to hunker down and type up a paper in a building where you have access to everything that you’ll need to get your work done. Those things ring true for the Harold and Wilma Good Library, but there’s also so much more that it has to offer beyond academics — hot drinks, board games, gaming systems and seed swapping. Within the walls of the library, there’s a reason for everything that has come to be. “We follow your trends,” said...
October 4, 2024
Phil and Amelia’s banned book list
In celebration of the American Library Association’s Banned Books week last week, we wanted to offer our personal suggestions for books that should be banned. Although we think book banning is a harmful and alarming practice, we’re sure you’ll agree that these are exceptions to the rule … or maybe just an illustration of how silly book bans are. Captain Underpants series So many strikes against this series. It’s completely inappropriate for kids these days to be reading something with the word “underpants” in the title. Plus, Captain Underpants himself always appears partially nude, only in tighty whities. It also...
February 22, 2024
Geekin’ in Good Library
The Good Library hosted its third annual Geek Off last Friday, with the intention of displaying the unique and creative endeavors among the Goshen College community. The contest was open to students, faculty and staff, allowing them the opportunity to “geek out,” while also competing for prizes. The hourlong event saw a total of 15 participants, with 11 students showing out. The criteria for entry consisted of personal creative projects outside of the classroom, with students being able to submit more than one piece. Virtual entries were accepted as well. The projects submitted included poetry, art and writing, music, crochet...
November 30, 2023
Giant acorn
Goshen College has many squirrels on campus, but one new visitor is more zealous than most. In the breezeway of the Good Library, a new sculpture is on display. Titled “Ambition” and crafted this year by John Peterink of Milford, Indiana, the piece is a fusion of steel, fiberglass and resin. It features a life-size squirrel hoisting an acorn (approximately the size of a washing machine) on its back. The concept was based on Peterink’s yard being covered in acorns. In his artist’s statement, Peterink wondered, “Could a huge acorn trash can be a better fit for such a beautiful,...
September 14, 2023
Video games in library mark shift in services
Where before there were shelves of magazines, old copies of New York Times book reviews and hundreds of DVDs, the media room in the basement of the Harold and Wilma Good Library is redecorated with soft lighting, chairs, a 62-inch flatscreen TV and a PlayStation 5. According to Kelsey McLane, services specialist at the library, the repurposing of the media room to a video game space is part of the library’s efforts to shift from an academic storehouse of books toward a studying and gathering space. “The space is open whenever the library is open,” said McLane. Additions to circulation...
March 23, 2023
Librarians co-host podcast on Amish life
Just over two years ago, Goshen College librarians Erin Milanese, Abby Nafziger and Tillie Yoder started their first podcast, “Just Plain Wrong.” In it, the three discuss different areas of Amish culture and depictions of Amish and Mennonite life in the media. Although they first began discussing strictly Amish romance novels, they have recently found more enriching areas including the presentation of Amish and Mennonites in movies, novels, comics and nonfiction stories, as well as research on Amish life. One of their more recent episodes featured Dirk Eitzen, the author of “Fooling With the Amish: Amish Mafia, Entertaining Fakery, and...
January 26, 2023
Geek Off Creative Contest
Students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Good Library Geek Off, an inaugural creative contest, through Feb. 4. “Geek Off is a chance for everyone on campus to show what they are passionate about … ” said Kelsey Mclane, access services coordinator for the Good Library. Entries will be judged based on the following criteria: creativity and originality, technical excellence and overall impression. In addition, entries must be items that are created outside of courses, in order to focus on a student’s creativity away from school. Prizes for the top three entries include a Nintendo Switch, an...
January 26, 2023
Good Library ‘weeds out’ thousands of books
The Good Library is getting rid of books. In an attempt to trim down its collection of roughly 190,000 physical books, the library is undertaking a massive deaccessioning — or “weeding” project — in which librarians are removing thousands of books from the catalog. The project, which started last summer, serves as a way to cut down on books that are not being read. All books have to meet two criteria to be withdrawn from the library’s collection: they were published in 2000 or earlier and they have not been checked out since 2012. Fritz Hartman, the library director, says...
September 15, 2022
Elizabeth Miller begins work as the new director of ISGA and MHL
As the new director of the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism (ISGA) as well as the Mennonite Historical Library (MHL), Elizabeth Miller will get a chance to connect Anabaptists worldwide by helping tell their stories. Miller, who graduated from Goshen College in 2006, is also starting teaching duties as assistant professor of history at GC. She assumed responsibility for these three positions in August, replacing John Roth, who retired as a professor in June after 37 years of teaching at the college. Founded in 1906, the MHL collects published works relating to Mennonites and Anabaptists. Roth established the...