Sydney Kilgore

Tell us your Smith College Libraries Story.

I began working at Special Collections in the summer of 2023, since I wanted to stay on campus and it seemed like an interesting job. I enjoyed it so much that I continued working there during the academic year, initially splitting my time with the Central Service Point of Neilson Library. I also spent summer 2024 and J-term 2025 working at Special Collections.

Spending so much time at the Libraries, Special Collections specifically, has probably been the most impactful experience of my college career. What started out as a one-off summer job made me realize that I want to pursue a career in archives. I owe this to the amazing SCSC archivists, who have all been incredibly kind and helpful. They are always willing to chat with me about their career paths and offer advice on getting into the profession, and I have learned so much from them.

Outside of the Libraries, what are your interests and hobbies?

I enjoy cooking for my roommates, singing with the Smith College Glee Club, co-hosting a radio show on WOZQ, listening to/reading about/thinking about Bruce Springsteen, and collecting articles from JSTOR (sometimes I even read them too!).

What is next for you after graduating from Smith?

I hope to eventually go to graduate school for a Master of Library and Information Science and work with archival or museum collections in New England. This summer, I will be the Collections Management intern at the Albacore Park museum in Portsmouth, NH, where I'll be cataloging artifacts on submarine technology and helping to prepare exhibits and public programs. I'm excited to gain experience in the technical side of collections work and learn more about New England's maritime history in the process!

If you could impart one piece of advice to incoming first year students, what would it be?

Talk to librarians! Even if you feel confident in your research skills, there are so many resources available that you might not be aware of.