Named for a noted glass scientist and educator, the Samuel R. Scholes Library of Ceramics is a special library formally established in 1947 to support the curriculum and research programs of the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.
Scholes Library serves as an international resource for information on the art, science, technology, and history of ceramics and glass, and its collections of print and non-print material on photography, art history, contemporary art, electronic media, glass art, and sculpture are outstanding. Current holdings include 100,000 bound volumes, 60,000 government research reports, 160,000 slides, and a variety of other materials. The library faculty includes specialists in art and design, engineering and science, visual resources and information systems.
The New York State College of Ceramics is a statutory college of the State University of New York (SUNY). Established in 1900, the College of Ceramics encompasses the School of Art and Design and programs in the Inamori School of Engineering focused on materials (ceramic engineering, glass science, materials science, and biomaterials). Programs include both undergraduate (BA / BS) and graduate (MFA, MS, and PhD) degrees. The College of Ceramics also includes specialized entities such as the National Casting Center and the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT).