Last year, first-year students at Williams College used library resources to solve a theft of Shakespeare's First Folio from the college's Chapin Library of Rare Books in 1940.
This fall's introduction to the campus libraries and their resources asked first-year students to put on their thinking caps to solve yet another college mystery - more macabre than the last: What happened to founder Ephraim Williams head?
In 1854, a group of Williams alumni went to place a memorial on Ephraim Williams grave and found that Ephraim's skull was missing. A cloud of suspicion has hung over Ephraim's nephew and Williams graduate, Williams H. Williams! Was he the thief? Did he steal the head? Why?
More than 450 first-year students began the mystery tour by watching a humorous welcome video starring librarians and students. Along the way, the first-years used archival material and online resources, including the library's catalog, a database containing historical New York Times articles, and the course reserved readings system.
Students also gathered clues from members of the library staff, who, entering the spirit of the game, swore them to secrecy saying, "We're not supposed to talk about it." Students also gathered clues from videos of Williams professors who, entering the spirit of the game, swore them to secrecy saying, "We're not supposed to talk about it."
First-year student Brookes Clemmons, from Charlotte, Vt. was enthusiastic about the tour. "I thought it was a good introduction to the different library computer systems," she said. "I got to see how I'll be using them in courses. I also liked the fact that we did this in groups because it was a great way to meet people."
The main point of the exercise said Lori DuBois, reference and instruction librarian, was to bring students into the library. "By making the introduction fun, I hope we've encouraged students to feel more comfortable in the library," she said. "When it's time for them to do research, they'll know we're approachable and ready to help them."
As a further step in enhancing the approachability of librarians, students received two Librarian Trading cards in their campus mailboxes. Each card bore the picture of a librarian and provided details about his/her "superpowers" (specialties), vulnerabilities, and contact information. All of the cards may be seen on the library website at http://www.williams.edu/library/trading-cards.php .
Evan Seely of Woodstock, Vt., the first to finish the Library Mystery Tour, said the game was a great way to introduce students to the libraries and to the campus. He also learned a little bit about the history of the college. "We had fun," he said.
"And that, after all, is what the Mystery Tour was all about," said DuBois. As to the answer to The Mystery Tour: How Did He Lose His Head? Sorry, but she's sworn to secrecy.
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Williamstown Housing Trust Clarifies Status of Contributions to Habitat Project
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A representative of Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity appeared before the board of the town's Affordable Housing Trust on Wednesday to make sure the body still was committed to a $100,000 contribution toward the first home to be built in a subdivision off Summer Street.
Keith Davis told the board that his understanding was the board committed at its Aug. 20, 2025, meeting to make the contribution in addition to the $120,000 the trustees pledged to help build infrastructure to serve the planned four-home subdivision.
Although the first payment was received, Davis was concerned that the board was not accounting for the $100,000 contribution at its monthly meeting when it received a report from the trust's treasurer on the body's available funds.
"When I listen to your meetings and don't hear the commitment for $100,000, that makes me a little nervous," Davis said. "Because that is a major contribution."
The three trustees who were on the board last summer all agreed that the commitment for the second six-figure contribution was made.
Then-treasurer Ruth Harrison did not choose to serve another term after her term expired on June 30.
Davis told the panel that something in one of her recent treasurer's report caught his attention.
But participants know that the challenge of riding their bicycles 177 miles from Worcester to Provincetown pales in comparison to the day-to-day challenge faced by cancer survivors.
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The Select Board on Monday approved one request from Berkshire Gas to install equipment in the town's right-of-way and put off another request pending more information from the utility. click for more