Library Changes and Challenges

For those of you who have visited our library lately, you may have noticed that some things are missing, like the rather large bookcases and shelves. No, we didn't have a midnight robbery! We decided to shift many of the books and videos in order to make room for more tables, and hopefully more computers! Most of the reference collection has now been merged into the general collection, and videos are now on the wall. It looks a little strange (for now) but it will be changing soon.

The subject of "change" is something I have been thinking about a lot lately, not only here in the library, but in my personal life as well. I have a son who is graduating from high school in a few weeks, which will bring about great changes in our family and in my son's life. Over the past year, he has been looking at a variety of schools, trying to decide on the best course for his future. No pressure from Mom (of course) but the subject of money kept creeping into our conversations, and maybe going to NCC might be the best choice for him, even if it was temporary or until he decided on which school to attend.

My opinion, although biased, meant little until the deadlines on putting deposits on a dorm room came up, when the FAFSA revealed what we would have to contribute, and all of the incidental expenses getting ready for college really entailed. Suddenly NCC seemed like the most practical, economical, and best decision he could make. I raved to him about the faculty and staff, on how impressed I have been over the past few years with the rigor of the courses, the caring atmosphere that he would find on campus, and of course, about our wonderful library services!

On several other college visits, I did manage to take a look at the campus libraries. I noticed interesting things about who was using the library, and what they were doing there. Libraries and librarians have had to make changes in how they provide services (24-7, right?) and what type of environment works best for their students. If you have visited our library, it's not very quiet, it's usually pretty busy, and students are doing all sorts of tasks--studying, getting on social sites, reading email, printing papers, making copies, browsing the stacks, or watching videos (and eating their lunch or a snack--hey, why not?). This is drastically different from the libraries I remember as a child, where the tomes and silence were almost scary, and the librarian was on an unavailable perch behind the desk. This is why change is good, and the students are the ones who have helped us make the transition to a 21st-century place.

I hope you will stop by and take a look at our "new" space, and let us know what types of changes you would like to see--and in the fall, I just may see my own son sitting at one of the computers. I promise not to point him out!