What students think about the library...

It's been quite some time since I posted. It has been quite the busy Fall semester, and we are glad that students are using the libraries. The library at the School of Business has REALLY been busy: in one week, Sara Godbee's records indicate over 900 students came into the library at Owings Mills. We are guessing that many students living in the residence halls enjoy the convenience of a quiet library in which to study, do reserve readings, computing work, and meet with study groups located just across the parking lot from the dorms. What this indicates is that we need to do some thinking about other library sites on that campus.

Meanwhile, at the Greenspring Campus, things are jumping. Now that papers are due, the reference librarians are busily helping students locate materials. My most challenging question came from a SU student looking for primary source materials relating to the Byzantine Empire. Such fun! Really, I so enjoy the student contact, and a challenging question or two to enliven my work day. Today is even busier because 3 of my staff are presenting or otherwise involved with the MILEX conference!

What I really want to talk about is how excited the library staff are about working with Dr. Leeane Bell and her Proxemics classes. These students are learning about space and human communication, and how the two interact with each other, and they are applying what they have learned to help us to design and reconfigure the Greenspring Campus Library. One "aha" moment came when students revealed that they feel self-conscious entering that library because of the layout, and that they hesitate to ask for help because of the way the large Reserves Desk is set up. Who knew! We have lived with that setup for probably 15 years or more! And we have just gotten accustomed to it. The fact that Dr. Bell's students are willing to open and up and tell us what they think will result in a better functioning library for future generations of SU students! Thanks, guys!

Faculty who may be reading this, stand by to hear about a new Renovation Committee. I will be putting this together in partnership with faculty on the Learning Beyond Committee and of course the FLAC (Faculty Library Advisory Committee) soon.

May you live in interesting times...

I know intellectually that change is good, but this semester has to be the changin'-est one EVER. We now have a new School of Business Library at Owings Mills and a brand new Librarian to manage it, Sara Godbee. She has lots on her plate, and is stepping up to the challenge wonderfully. Getting there has been very interesting: we had to weed, select titles and ship them over to the new site. There is now small functional Paralegal Collection on-site at Owings Mills, along with a small Current Periodicals collection and business reference titles. Today saw the installation of printing in the Instruction Lab there. And, we have 3 new student Library Assistants, who are woman-ing and man-ning the front desk until 10 PM during the week (except Friday), and on weekends. In the works are extended hours for 5 days a week, so stay tuned for developments on that front. Meanwhile, at the main Library on the Greenspring campus, things are jumpin'! The Reserves Desk is busier than ever, with additional students pouring in to view media titles, check their email, attend instruction sessions, study, or just hang out. We are fortunate to have a little more seating space to accomodate them. Is it just my imagination, or is the frenzy beginning earlier this Fall than it has in other years? The good news is, we are still a place where students want to work and relax. Watch for news about our efforts to glean information from SU's students about how they want the renovated library at Greenspring to look and feel!

Welcome Back!

If you are reading this, you are thinking about the Fall Semester, right around the corner. Here's what's up in the Library!

Sara Godbee will join our Library Team on September 2d as the first School of Business Librarian. Sara comes to us from the University of Maryland University College where she worked in Access Services. This is her second career: prior to obtaining her Master of Library Science degree, Sara was a market research analyst, and has a strong background in this area. She also loves to cook!

Sara will be in charge of the new Library. Stop by and say hello. BTW, both Sara, and our own Sue Bonsteel and Gina Phillips are on the program for "How in the world? Getting Students to Think Critically", sponsored by MILEX (Maryland Information Literacy Exchange) on Friday, October 24, 2008, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. View the program at http://www.milexmd.org/conference08.html. It looks excellent!

The main Library at the Greenspring Campus has some new exhibits: one on the Baltimore Speaker Series (sponsored by Stevenson University), and one on graphic novels. You'll also notice that our Periodicals collections have moved to the second floor, in the space vacated by the Paralegal collection, which is now housed in the School of Busienss Library. Near the new Periodicals area there is some nice comfy furniture, for relaxing in while you read your latest journal, magazine, or newspaper. The removal of Periodicals from the overcrowded first floor area has freed up a little space for badly-needed student seating. We hope you like these improvements. Stop by and see us soon!