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Hamilton College's annual Couper Phi Beta Kappa Lecture series presented Bryan Alexander, director of research for the National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education (NITLE) on Thursday, Jan. 29. Responding to the July/August Atlantic magazine article "Is Google Making Us Stupid" by Nicholas Carr, Alexander divulged the article's many weaknesses to a full Kennedy Auditorium in the Science Center. 

Author Glendyne Wergland, whose most recent book, Visiting the Shakers: 1778-1849, was recently published by Hamilton's Couper Press, presented the Couper Phi Beta Kappa Library Lecture on Oct. 23. The Couper lecture was established in 2005 to honor Hamilton alumnus Richard "Dick" Couper '44. Couper died in January 2006. This annual lecture recognizes Couper's commitment and contributions to the college and the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Each fall a distinguished speaker is invited to present topics related to the college's special library collections or to present an issue related to libraries in general.

Ray English, the Azariah Smith Root Director of Libraries at Oberlin College, presented the second annual Couper Phi Beta Kappa Library Lecture.  English spoke about the need for fundamental reform in the system of scholarly communication, and advocated a move toward open access publishing. The Couper Phi Beta Kappa Library Lecture, established last year in honor of Richard “Dick” Couper ’44, brings a distinguished lecturer to campus each fall to speak on issues related to the College’s library or libraries in general.

The Inaugural Couper Phi Beta Kappa Library Lecture was held on Friday, September 9. This annual lecture will honor Hamilton alumnus and trustee Richard “Dick” Couper ’44 for his commitment and contributions to Hamilton College and the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the oldest academic honorary society in America. David Stam, the former Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries at the New York Public Library and Syracuse University librarian emeritus was the speaker for this event. His topic was “An Army without Ammunition: Books and the College Library,” about the trials and tribulations of Hamilton and its library in the 19th century.