The Hammermill Library has a new resource available for students. Thanks to a conjunct effort between Hammermill Library and the Fashion Merchandising Department, students now can enjoy unlimited access to Women’s Wear Daily (WWD).

WWD is a fashion-industry trade journal, referred to as the “bible of fashion.” It delivers information on breaking news and upcoming trends in the world of fashion, beauty and retail.

Although WWD readership is composed largely of members in the fashion industry, including retailers, designers, manufacturers, marketers and trend makers, any consumer trying to keep up-to-date with the retail business can find it useful and intriguing.

Prior to having the journal available on the Hammermill Library website, the fashion department received a daily print copy of WWD. However, the mailing process entailed receiving the copies a few days later from its date of publication. Moreover, the library databases only enabled access to WWD abstracts, not full articles.

In an industry where being attentive to the latest and most current news is pivotal, the situation was less than ideal. Today, students can browse the journal on a daily basis for fashion trends, features and scoop as easily and quickly as walking to a newsstand and picking up a physical copy.

Fashion Department Chair and Assistant Professor Amy Weaver-Kaulis describes the endeavor as the “best of both worlds.” She asserts it is a phenomenal asset and support to the Fashion program. It is a research tool that enables students to search for both past and current articles without the hassle of having to graze through newspaper copies.

Currently, only a limited number of users are able to access this resource at the same time. The subscription to Women’s Wear Daily is paid per seat. Due to the expensive cost of the subscription, the Hammermill Library only offers entry to two viewers at once.

Librarian Penny Wise states, however, that the online subscription is still in a period of trial. Depending on usage statistics regarding the number of turnaways, the decision to finance more seats might be taken. Regardless, WWD is a valuable resource for students interested in the fashion, retail or beauty industries.