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| Spring 2002 Issue |
Message From the DeanSince the new Downtown Campus Library opened in January, the library staff and I have especially enjoyed seeing students and faculty make use of this important educational environment. While the facility itself is impressive, seeing our users doing their own research at the new workstations, asking questions at the reference desk, finding a current periodical, looking up their class assignments on reserve, enjoying the view from the sixth floor, and meeting colleagues in a study room truly makes the library come alive. In June 2001 the Association of College and Research Libraries issued A Student's Guide To Evaluating Libraries in Colleges and Universities, intended to be part of the process for selecting the college or university a student chooses to attend. The Guide's premise is that given the increasing acceleration in the amount of information available, locating and evaluating information are critical skills in becoming an educated individual. Students are asked to make one factor in their college choice how well the library will help them succeed in this complex and chaotic information age. The Guide considers three critical areas for an academic library: facilities, services, and resources. I can say with confidence that most of the questions the Guide presents are answered strongly positive in the WVU Libraries. Many of the questions are answered by our ongoing informal surveys of what users like best about our newest facility, the Downtown Campus Library, but the same statements are also true of our other campus libraries. The Guide asks "Can you easily find your way around the library?" "Is the library space inviting?" "Is there a variety of study spaces?" "Is there adequate space for users and collections?" "Are multimedia facilities available for your use?" When we talk to our student users, they tell us what they like best about the new library is the availability of high speed workstations, the openness and light of the building, and the variety of study spaces from tables and carrels to lounge furniture and group study rooms. They also notice the technology available on the lower level in Media Services. The renovated Evansdale Library with its laptops and wireless network is a popular place to study. Plans are being developed for a new Health Sciences Library building upon our recent experience and relevant to the particular interests of health care providers, researchers, teachers, and students. Our users tell us that it is very important to them to have library staff available to assist in locating the right information. The Guide's section on evaluating library services begins with questions about library staff, instructional programs available, remote access to electronic library resources, and electronic help. It ends with questions on support for distance education and library support for newer technologies such as laptops, PDAs, and e-books. Again, the WVU Libraries would all score well. The Guide's section on evaluating library resources is prefaced with a stunningly simple and true statement: "A quality library collection consists of information in a variety of formats and requires sustained support over many years for adequate development." The array of electronic and printed information available in the WVU Libraries is dependent upon financial resources available each year, on a continuing basis, with inflationary increases. Our acquisitions budget is derived from University appropriations and private support. The Libraries today offer 1.7 million volumes, 130 electronic databases, and 9000 full-text electronic journals. Our online catalog is web-based and user-friendly. Theses and dissertations, and reserve readings are available electronically. The last question in this section is "Will the library readily obtain materials for you that are not owned by the library?" Interlibrary loan and document delivery services are certainly among the WVU Libraries' strongest programs, and are frequently praised by users. The Libraries contribute to the level
of educational opportunities provided to every WVU student during an academic
career -- undergraduate, graduate, and professional. We have long been
known for friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful public service. We have
up-to-date technology and a user-centered innovative spirit. We are proud
to be a part of the WVU learning community. In the next issue of Ex Libris
we will look more closely at our faculty users and their essential relationships
with the Libraries. The ACRL A Student's Guide to Evaluating Libraries
in Colleges and Universities is available on the Association's web site
www.ala.org/acrl/evalguide.html. |
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Ex Libris is published quarterly by the WVU Libraries |
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