Libraries really aren’t just a place where you go “shhh!, it’s a library!”  Over the past year I’ve had the fantastic opportunity to work with Brian Mathews, Associate Dean for Virginia Tech University Libraries, on providing input on what will result in a dramatic transofmration and renovation of Virginia Tech’s main library, Newman Library.  I didn’t really have much experience with university libraries as an undergrad but realized that I would be utilizing their services much more as I transitioned into becoming a graduate student.

I didn’t spend a whole bunch of time there until an old high school classmate, Alisha, told me about how she wanted to major in Library Science.  I had no idea what library science was so I decided to look up more about it and thereby get more engaged with the libraries at my university.

Libraries really are transitioning into a place that is all about services.  They used to be a place that primarily consisted of stacks and stacks of books, but now they are becoming a space and place that must be comfortable and user-friendly.  As I wrote in a paper for a class, Assessment in Student Affairs, last semester (Fall 2012), the real transformative libraries are beginning to benchmark themselves against spaces that, on the surface, have nothing to do with education – like hotel lobbies.

This Monday, there was a **fantastic article in the Roanoke Times about the renovation that has been happening with Virginia Tech’s University Libraries. I definitely invite you to check it out.  The article highlights some of the great work they’re doing, especially the fact that it’s now 24 hours M-T, which I really take advantage of (shout out to the SGA (Student Government Association) Leaders that helped to make that happen!).  They also have some very eye opening statistics along the left side bar.

To learn more about Brian, who I’ll also be working with this summer in developing a library-services based curriculum, visit his blog through the Chronicle of Higher Education here.

** At the time of publishing this blog (March 6th) the link to the article is not working for some reason. I’m not sure why, but I hope it works soon – I’ve even tried accessing the story via Google search and it appears to be an issue on the Roanoke Times side.