FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2026
Drexel Hill, PA and Geneva, NY — The Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation (PALCI) and the Warren Hunting Smith Library at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) today announced that HWS has joined the PALCI consortium as its 81st member institution. The membership became effective January 1, 2026.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Library brings to PALCI a strong commitment to collaboration, inclusive access, and innovative library services that support undergraduate education, faculty research, and interdisciplinary inquiry. By joining PALCI, HWS will expand cost-effective access to information, enhance collaborative opportunities for its community, deepen engagement with peer institutions, and participate in collective approaches to sustainable collections, library technology, and professional learning.
“We see PALCI as a values-aligned partnership that emphasizes cooperation, shared expertise, and practical innovation,” said Chuck Vesei, Library Director of the Warren Hunting Smith Library. “Membership will strengthen our ability to provide excellent resources and services to our students and faculty while allowing us to contribute meaningfully to a broader academic library community.”
PALCI membership will provide HWS access to a wide range of collaborative services, including discounted group licensing opportunities, professional development programs, and participation in shared initiatives that advance open, standards-based, and community-owned library infrastructure. HWS librarians also look forward to contributing their perspectives and expertise to PALCI committees, working groups, and leadership activities.
“PALCI thrives because of the diverse strengths and shared commitments of its member libraries,” said Jill Morris, Executive Director of PALCI. “Hobart and William Smith Colleges Library exemplifies the collaborative spirit and forward-looking approach that defines our partnership. We are delighted to welcome them.”
With the addition of Hobart and William Smith Colleges Library, PALCI continues to grow as a regional network dedicated to advancing access to information, strengthening academic libraries, and supporting the success of students, faculty, and researchers.
About Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith, located on Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes region in New York, is a liberal arts and sciences institution known for consistent success in preparing students for meaningful lives and fulfilling careers through an outcomes-based focus on their futures. HWS is ranked in the top 15 colleges and universities in the nation by The Princeton Review for internships, career services, alumni network and happiest students. HWS is ranked first in the nation by Washington Monthly for community service and fourth in the nation by the Wall Street Journal for student experience, reflecting a strong commitment to prepare students to lead lives of consequence. The student body at HWS is approximately 1,800 with an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. More than 60% of students study abroad and all students participate in community service.
About PALCI
The Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation (PALCI) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) consortium of 81 academic and research libraries in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. Together, PALCI members serve more than 800,000 students, faculty, and staff in five states by advancing cost-effective and sustainable access to information resources and services. Known for its applied innovation, high-impact group negotiations, and the widely used EZBorrow consortial interlibrary loan service, PALCI supports collaboration through shared collections programs, resource sharing services, and pioneering standards-based approaches to library technology. Founded in 1996 as the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc., PALCI continues to foster collective solutions that strengthen libraries and the communities they serve. See the full list of PALCI member libraries, here: https://palci.org/about/members/member-list
Media Contact:
Jill Morris
Executive Director, PALCI
support@palci.org
