Van Wylen Library

Van Wylen Library
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Van Wylen Library, completed in 1988, was named after Hope College’s ninth president and his wife, Dr. Gordon J. and Dr. Margaret D. Van Wylen. It holds more than 370,000 volumes and nearly 50,000 electronic journals. Students have access to MeLCat, an online system that allows students and faculty to request material from libraries throughout Michigan.

The library has five floors. The first floor holds the reference desk, circulation desk and the Klooster Center for Excellence in Writing, which provides research help in person, through individual research appointments, online chat, e-mail, and text services with reference librarians. The Cup & Chaucer is located just inside the main doors for a coffee or snack break.

The second floor features the Digital Media Lab (DML). Students may go to the DML to get help with printing and laminating, and to check out laptops, digital cameras and voice recorders. If a student is having trouble with a computer program or needs access to software, the student tutors at the DML will gladly be of assistance.

Students also have access to Cook Library of Western Theological Seminary and the Herrick District Library, both within walking distance from the campus.

Quick Facts

  • Van Wylen Library was awarded the 2004 Association of College and Research Libraries Excellence in Academic Libraries Award
  • There are nine full-time librarians, 12 full- and part-time support staff and nearly 90 student assistants
  • The former music library in the Nykerk Hall of Music merged with Van Wylen Library in 2013 — all music materials can now be found on the second floor
  • Van Wylen Library on Hope College’s campus, a brick building with gray and white accents, surrounded by green lawns and blossoming trees on a sunny day.
  • Van Wylen Library at Hope College, a red-brick building surrounded by trees with yellow autumn leaves. In the foreground, students sit on benches and walk along the pathway leading to the library entrance. Bicycles are parked near the side of the building.
  • A view of the Cup & Chaucer café inside the Van Wylen Library at Hope College. The café features comfortable seating areas with tables and chairs, and a counter where drinks and snacks are served. Students are seated in the café area, studying and conversing. The space is well-lit with natural light coming through the windows in the background.
  • Students studying and working on laptops at various tables and chairs inside a well-lit room in Van Wylen Library, Hope College. The room features large windows, potted plants, and a mix of wooden furniture and red cushioned seating.
  • Students study at tables inside Van Wylen Library at Hope College. Surrounding the tables are bookshelves filled with volumes, and a bust of a historical figure is displayed in a glass case to the right.
  • Two students sit at a wooden table in Van Wylen Library at Hope College. One student is using a laptop while the other is relaxed with their boots propped up on the table. Various stuffed animals are visible in the background, and backpacks are on the floor nearby.
  • Overhead view of a cozy reading area in the Van Wylen Library at Hope College. The space features a large window with blinds, a blue carpet with red borders, blue and grey cushioned chairs arranged around a circular wooden table, and a large potted plant. A person is relaxing on one of the chairs, reading a book with their legs up. Shelves with books are visible on the left side.
  • A student with a backpack and holding papers walks up a staircase inside Van Wylen Library, surrounded by bookshelves and seating areas.
  • Students are seated in a computer lab within Van Wylen Library at Hope College, focused on their work. Some are using desktop computers, while others are working on laptops. The room is well-lit with natural light coming through large windows with vertical blinds. A plant in a pot is visible in the foreground, adding a touch of greenery to the space.
  • The interior of Van Wylen Library at Hope College, featuring the entrance area with large glass doors and windows. To the right, there is the Cup & Chaucer café with seating areas and a person walking towards it. The area is well-lit with overhead lighting and decorated with warm colors.
  • Interior view of Van Wylen Library at Hope College showing the Cup & Chaucer café area. The café features seating with tables and chairs, as well as booths with cushioned seats and throw pillows. In the background, a person is seen working behind the café counter, and several students are sitting and working at tables. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with large windows providing natural light.
  • Interior view of Van Wylen Library at Hope College, showing students studying at tables and desks in a spacious, well-lit area with large windows, overhead lighting, and various seating arrangements. A student wearing a Hope College t-shirt is seated at a table with magazines and books spread out.
  • Students study at tables in the Van Wylen Library at Hope College. The space is lined with shelves of books, and a bust of a historical figure is displayed in a glass case on the right.
  • Students study in a cozy, well-lit room inside the Van Wylen Library at Hope College. The space features a bookshelf filled with books, a large plant, and green geometric chalkboard structures. Several students are seated on comfortable chairs, engaged in reading and using laptops.
  • Interior view of the Digital Media Lab at Van Wylen Library in Hope College. The room is visible through wooden-framed glass windows. Inside, students are using computers and working on various tasks at desks.
  • Students studying and working on laptops in a spacious, well-lit area of Van Wylen Library at Hope College. The library features comfortable red chairs, large windows, and several potted plants.
  • Interior view of Van Wylen Library at Hope College, showing rows of bookshelves filled with periodicals and magazines on either side. There are several study tables and chairs scattered throughout the space, with a few students sitting and studying. The library features a well-lit, spacious environment with large windows at the back letting in natural light.
  • A student sits in a study area at the Van Wylen Library, leaning back and reading a book. The space is framed by pink columns and the student has a purple backpack on the floor.
  • A cozy study area inside Van Wylen Library at Hope College, featuring several red armchairs grouped around small round tables. Large windows allow natural light to fill the space, and there are green plants adding a touch of nature. A student is seated at one of the tables, focusing on their work.
  • A bright, modern interior of Van Wylen Library at Hope College, featuring high ceilings and large windows allowing natural light to pour in. The space includes comfortable chairs and tables arranged for study. A student is seated at a table with a laptop, and a large potted plant adds greenery to the room.
  • A spacious and well-lit study area in Van Wylen Library at Hope College, featuring bookshelves on the left, several tables with chairs, and comfortable armchairs arranged in a seating area. A student is seated at one of the tables, studying. Large windows allow natural light to fill the room, and a potted plant adds a touch of greenery.

Learn more about library services 

A map showing the location for Van Wylen Library