On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Swarthmore’s Art Lending Library hosted its inaugural event. The gallery opening, held in McCabe Library’s LibLab, invited students to view reproductions of works from across the four divisions of the library’s Special Collections: the Friends Historical Library, Peace Collection, College Archives, and Rare Book Room. The event culminated in an art raffle; each winning student was allowed to take a piece of their choice home for the remainder of the fall semester.
“All people deserve access to art,” said Dr. Abbie Weil, Swarthmore’s research and instruction outreach librarian and the driving force behind the Art Lending Library. “You don’t have to be rich to encounter art, have a meaningful relationship with art, or have art in your home. Swarthmore College Libraries [house] world-class Special Collections, and the Art Lending Library is a way to show and share what we have.”
The 22 artworks were arranged across several tables, each accompanied by a paper slip listing its title, creator, and collection of origin. Jazz played softly over the LibLab speakers as students perused the gallery, chatted with visiting Special Collections staff, and helped themselves to hors d’oeuvres — cheeses, red and green grapes, sparkling water — available in the adjoining lounge.
With midterms just around the corner, a number of the opening’s attendees expressed gratitude for a break in their study routine.
“It’s a great time to get away from homework,” said Elijah Nepomuceno ’28. “As someone who spent a lot of time studying documents in the collections last year, it’s a chance to just have fun looking at all the art that they have.”
Like many others, though, Nepomuceno hoped to do more with the artwork than merely observe.
“If I got to take something home,” he said with a grin, “I mean, that would just be crazy.”
Nepomuceno was in luck. After signing an agreement to take care of his new dorm decoration — a vintage print from the Friends Historical Library — he joined the other winners for a group photo showing off their freshly acquired pieces.
In her closing remarks, Weil emphasized that while the senior members of the Swarthmore Libraries team set the plan for the gallery in motion, this event would not have been possible without the work of the four Research & Information Ambassadors (RIAs) at the Libraries.
Quinn Mass ’28, an RIA, described the team’s contributions. First, the RIAs compiled artwork — initially about 50 pieces — from across the Special Collections. They then narrowed the selection down through a series of votes in collaboration with members of the Libraries staff. Finally, they labelled the remaining 22 works and arranged them in gallery format.
In the end, said Mass, it was more than worth the effort: “I’m really excited that so many people showed up. It’s so nice to see this all finally come to fruition after weeks of planning.”
Weil shared similar sentiments after the gallery night had come to an end. “I thought the event was a great success! I saw students enthusiastically engaging with art, learning about Special Collections, and connecting with each other over their shared interests, ” she said.
Students interested in seeing more artwork from the college’s archives can explore the Special Collections online or visit the Collections in person at McCabe Library’s Reading Room. The Art Lending Library will host the second annual gallery opening and art raffle in September 2026.
