Susan Swords Steffen and Michael J. Bell
College libraries and librarians face an exciting and challenging time. The proliferation of information in multiple formats and the widespread access to information via the Internet demand the re-examination of the role of the library within the academic community. In this rapidly changing and expanding information environment, college libraries can no longer be content to be repositories of books and journals, and college librarians cannot act merely as builders of collections. At the same time, we resist those who argue that college libraries should become primarily information gateways, and college librarians should serve as information clerks and managers. Increased information without interpretation is likely to produce more noise than knowledge, and librarians who merely manage information flow are more likely to produce more ignorance than insight. Instead we believe that college librarians must develop new roles as teachers of critical learning skills, as research collaborators, as technology leaders, and as encouragers of intellectual inquiry. They must create a "new library," one that will meet the intellectual needs of students and faculty in this changing information environment while maintaining the library's traditional responsibility to teach the critical research skills so central to intellectual life.
We believe further that our library is ideally suited to such a task.
Buehler Library's librarians are focused on the teaching and learning needs
of undergraduates and faculty, and our goal, by choice, is to design a
"new library" intentionally organized, staffed, and directed to teach our
students critical learning skills, to nurture our students' capacities
for discovery and creation, and to strengthen the intellectual climate
in which students and faculty work. Our collections, unlike those of university
libraries burdened by unwieldy research collections, are working collections
of materials which support the curriculum and are specifically targeted
to undergraduates. Our intention is to create this "new library" on the
firm foundation of a strong information literacy program, major investments
in computer technology, and a recently renovated building with enough space
to comfortably house users, collections, and staff. Our expectation is
that such a library will serve as a model of how college libraries ought
to be in the twenty-first century and through its leadership will enhance
the reputation of Elmhurst College as a premier comprehensive liberal arts
college in the Midwest.
Our Vision
The "new library" that we envision will invite students and faculty
to learn, to inquire, and to read through five major focus areas: instruction,
research and information consulting, technology leadership, collections,
and reading encouragement.
* Instruction
The abilities to locate, critically evaluate, and use information are
essential learning skills, and we believe that librarians must be key players
in the teaching of these skills. At the moment we have a strong information
literacy instruction program integrated throughout the curriculum providing
over 200 sessions each year. Our intention is to make that program even
stronger through the development of a number of guided learning experiences
intended to teach students to discover, select, organize, integrate, and
evaluate information using technological and traditional sources. Our hope
is that these learning experiences will become essential to every course
taught at the College.
* Research and Information Consulting
Consultation and collaboration with librarians who are experts in selecting,
accessing, and organizing information will continue to be an important
library service for students and faculty as they research and inquire.
* Technology Leadership
Librarians will lead students and faculty to develop expertise in all
areas of information technology, including electronically enhanced classroom
pedagogy and course resources. Training and support for faculty in the
use of computer technology will be centered in the Library. Computer Services
will continue to support faculty computer hardware.
* Collections
The collections housed in the Library will become more diverse in format
with an increasing number of multimedia and electronic materials represented,
but a carefully selected, robust book collection will continue to be an
important resource.
* Reading/Literacy/Encouragement
By selecting and promoting reading materials, providing spaces for
reading, and creating opportunities for discussion and reflection on reading
the library will play a critical role in strengthening the College's intellectual
community and will provide students with experiences that will help them
thrive in the academic and professional world.
This new vision for the A.C. Buehler Library prompted an examination of the library's current design. The library building renovation completed in 1994 included asbestos removal, new wiring and lighting, heating and cooling and electrical upgrades, new carpet and furnishings, and upgrades to bring the building into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. At that time circulating book collections were moved to the second floor (400's-900's in Dewey classification) and the lower level (000-399 in Dewey classification plus the Curriculum Collection, Special Collections, Archives, and Sound Recordings). Group study rooms were created on the second floor. The first floor was dedicated to the collections that did not circulate (reference and periodicals) and circulation, reference, technical services, and library administration. While the 1994 renovation improved the library's infrastructure, accessibility, and services, the current organization of the first floor was created to serve a much different philosophy of library service than the one our new vision proposes. We are, therefore, proposing a rethinking and reconfiguring of the Library first floor to more closely match and promote our vision.
The reconfigured first floor will contain the following
library services and facilities:
Instructional SpaceThe library conducts an active and intensive information literacy instruction program for students providing over 200 instructional sessions per year for students and a technology training and support program for faculty. To support these programs, a classroom with networked workstations to accommodate 30 students and a projection system should be constructed on the first floor. The classroom should be designed so that it can also be used as an open lab during times when classes are not scheduled.
Reference/Research CollaborationOur new vision assumes that the library will continue to provide reference service and research consultation, but that the style of this service will continue to become more collaborative. We would like to redesign the reference desk to be more open and approachable to encourage students and faculty to inquire with librarians rather than to merely ask them for answers. The reference area will include 2 staff workstations and 30 workstations for library users with appropriate printing facilities. The arrangement of workstations should provide for both individual privacy and group collaboration. In addition to the library's extensive collection of electronic resources, there will continue to be a print reference collection (approximately 10,000 volumes) that should be housed in proximity to the reference work area.
Reading/LiteracyThe importance of reading is central to our new vision, and the redesign of the first floor should reflect this initiative. A space for reading (comfortable and quiet) and for reading programming (both small group discussion and small audience programming) should be constructed. Many new and renovated libraries are introducing coffee and/or food service in this type of setting, and we should investigate the feasibility of this type of service in this building. We will also need shelving for current periodicals (approximately 750 titles) and for new and other featured books. These spaces need Internet connections.
TechnologyThe technology to support instruction and reference were mentioned above. In addition, we should explore the implementation of wireless networking to allow users to work on laptop computers throughout the library (this will be pursued through a possible matching grant from the Illinois State Library; application due September 15, 2001). To support the library's faculty development in technology program, we also need a small faculty lab with high-end technology where faculty and the Student Technology Assistants assisting them can work on computer projects.
Multimedia Materials and ServicesOur new vision proposes to integrate multimedia materials into the library's collections and services. This plan requires a variety of storage and services solutions: some videos will be shelved with the book collection, some videos and materials in miscellaneous formats will be shelved in a closed reserve collection, sound recordings will be integrated with an existing collection already in the library and stored on the lower level, the art slide collection will require storage space. We propose adding 6 listening stations for sound recordings and 3 portable video viewing workstations for use in the second floor group study rooms. There will also be an additional staff member associated with the multimedia collections who will require office and workspace.
PeriodicalsThe first floor currently houses bound periodicals (6800 linear feet) and microfilm and microfiche (25 cabinets) as well as 4 reader/printers and 5 copiers. We need to examine the most effective method of housing these journal collections - in reduced space on the first floor or in compact shelving on the lower level.
CirculationThe current Circulation space will need to be re-organized to accommodate the addition of the closed collection of multimedia materials. As the plans for the reconfigured first floor develop, we will need to examine the use of space by circulation to improve its efficiency.
StaffThe library currently employs 5 librarians with an additional librarian to be added in 2002. Four librarians work primarily in user services, one librarian is responsible for technical services, and one is the library director. Office space for the four librarians who work primarily in user services needs to be re-examined in light of the plans for reconfiguring the first floor. Additionally, office and workspace for at least one additionally support staff needed to process and service multimedia materials will be needed.
Study SpaceThere are currently seats for individual study on the library's first floor. We propose that these seats be relocated to the lower level and second floor so that users will not expect quiet study space on the first floor.
Susan Swords Steffen
August 21, 2001