Higher Education/Special Libraries

A great thing about DC is the quality of the libraries here, in particular the special libraries. Many such libraries are closed to the public (such as those associated with trade associations). But many are not such as the Foundation Center (great for fundraising research) and the Higher Education Library at the "National Center for Higher Education" building on Dupont Circle. (Plus the Dept. of Education has a nice library by the Air and Space Museum, but it is a pain in the ass to access. It was much easier when it was located by Union Station.)

I spent a couple hours at the Higher Education Library yesterday (time I didn't really have). But they have such a nicely focused collection. Including journals on land use planning for colleges, and urban engagement (the journal for the Coalition of Urban & Metropolitan Universities) and other good stuff.

Note the mission of the Coalition:

Metropolitan Universities are institutions that strive to be responsive to the needs of our communities, to include teaching that is adaptable to the diverse needs of our metropolitan students, and to build close working relationships with elementary and secondary schools so as to improve the overall quality of education.

Metropolitan Universities combine research-based learning with practical application and are dedicated to creating interdisciplinary partnerships and forming alliances with outside public and private organizations to resolve complex metropolitan problems. Within the university environment, our colleges and universities seek to educate students to become informed and engaged citizens who will play a role in the betterment of society.

It's interesting that the University of Maryland College Park is a member, but there isn't even one member of this organization of any of the higher education institutions domiciled in DC.

The journal for the Society for College and University Planning is searchable online. And CUMU publishes Metropolitan Universities, which also has grist for the mill for neighborhoods abutting universities, not to mention the general town-gown interaction issues and opportunities.

Index Keywords: urban-revitalization