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Easy printing at the library
Posted February 2, 2026
William & Mary has transitioned to WEPA for all on-campus printing. Here's how it works.
W&M Libraries Blog
W&M Libraries Blog
Summer at Swem: Building a New Digital Platform
Posted
W&M Libraries staff have been hard work over the summer months. A few of them were excited to share their favorite project with the W&M community. Deborah Cornell, head of digital services, shares on leading a multi-year endeavor to build a new digital collections platform.
Introducing Cynthia Vinson, Acquisitions Assistant
Posted
In this post, we introduce W&M Libraries' new acquisitions assistant, Cynthia Vinson!
Introducing Summer Arawjo, Circulation Reserves and Student Supervisor
Posted
In this post, we introduce W&M Libraries' new circulation reserves and student supervisor!
What’s the Difference? The four elements of intellectual property explained
Posted
Intellectual Property is actually a relatively new concept, historically speaking. Rights to intangible property didn’t become codified until the Statute of Anne in the 18th century; this is widely considered the first legally binding document defining and establishing intellectual property. However, it’s still a far cry from our modern experience with Intellectual Property (or IP as it is lovingly and occasionally derisively referred).
Seeking Permissions for Copyright-Protected Work
Posted
Fair use can be tricky to navigate because the legal benchmarks for this exemption are intentionally vague. You’ll never actually know if your use of copyrighted material is considered fair use unless a judge decides (which usually means you’ve been sued).
Introducing Rick Mikulski, Instruction and Reference Librarian
Posted
In this post, we introduce W&M Libraries' new instruction and reference librarian, Rick Mikulski!
Library staff member places second in VLA LGBTQIA+ Forum Art Contest
Posted
“Queer joy,” according to the corporate giant understanding, is made of brightly-colored silhouettes, hands clasped together, and flashy letters declaring “Proud” and “Love is Love.” This approach skyrocketed in popularity after the legalization of gay marriage by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015.
Changes in the Land
Posted
Recently, several neighbors and I trekked up a narrow, muddy path through dense, jungle-like foliage. Bright, glossy leaves crowned by yellow plumes. Long branches arched above and crowded around. This tropical moment was not faraway and exotic but on College Creek, less than a mile from Colonial Williamsburg.
Introducing Kaitlyn Weathers, Digitization Specialist
Posted
In this post, we introduce the newest member of our digital services team!
Understanding Fair Use
Posted
Copyright legally grants for a limited time the monopolistic use of a work. The copyright holder has the sole ability to make copies, distribute, edit, perform, and display. Rather than allowing all copyrighted works to sit in a vacuum where their uses are incredibly limited to everyone except the rights holder, certain exemptions are allowed. The most familiar to us in higher education is fair use.
Open Pedagogy: Harnessing the power of open educational resources
Posted
David Wiley once said that using OER the same way we use a commercial textbook is like driving a plane down a highway, it can be done but defeats the purpose.
Introducing Brigid Cryan, Music Library Assistant
Posted
In this post, we introduce W&M Libraries' new music library assistant, Brigid Cryan '22! Name: Brigid Cryan Title: Music Library Assistant
Like a needle in a haystack: Finding quality OER
Posted
Did you see our recent post introducing Open Educational Resources (OER)? If not, start there by clicking here. In this post we’ll walk through tips and tricks for finding OER in your field or discipline.
Creative Commons Licensing Explained
Posted
Scholarly publications (any publications for that matter from blogs to books) must adhere to some form of legal ownership structure. For us in the USA we follow the US Copyright Law (Title 17, 1-8, 10-12). Copyright was established in the US Constitution to support the progress of arts and sciences. Whenever you see the “c” copyright symbol and often when you don’t it means ALL rights reserved.
How Open Education Fits in the Larger Open Access Movement
Posted
Open Education Week (OEW) is usually held the first full week of March, but it’s not the only time we could/should talk about open education. OEW is an international celebration with ideas and collaborations from around the globe, but what exactly is it that OEW celebrates? Why Open Education, of course! Okay, but what does open education mean?
Understanding publication versions and which you can share with ScholarWorks
Posted
Your work has been accepted for publication! Congratulations!
W&M Libraries launches OA funding assistance
Posted
Announcement, annoucement, annooooouuuucement! Or Extra Extra Hear All About It! (depending on your persuasion and generational tendency). W&M Libraries is incredibly pleased to share that we have set aside funds ($100K in funds to be precise) to support faculty, students, and staff who want to publish their work open access!
The benefits of using Open Educational Resources
Posted
Textbook costs continue to rise, and you can be a part of the solution by incorporating low-cost and no-cost materials into your courses with Open Educational Resources (OER).
Carrying on the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Posted
Each year on the third Monday of January, the nation observes the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. As a leader in the civil rights movement, King stood as a pillar of hope and a model of grace. His influence was pivotal in ending segregation and the national holiday provides an opportunity to reflect on the work that still needs to be done for racial equality.
Managing Your Digital Identity
Posted
Open access has changed the way research is collected and disseminated. With so many scholars posting and publishing their work, it can be difficult for the algorithms (and interested human beings) to keep track of what work is yours. This is especially tricky when multiple scholars have the same name (Harry Potter or John Smith aren’t the only people experiencing attribution issues).