Library Visit #3 - Jerry Falwell Library

Digital Access

The website for the library can be found here: https://www.liberty.edu/library. There is a lot of access available through their site, especially for those who have a LU login. This is an academic library on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. It's primary purpose is to serve the students and professors of the college. There are several online databases and online book sites linked on the library's homepage. I did not see a page that listed library staff linked on the Library website. I'm sure there is a staff list somewhere online, bit it isn't readily available on the library's page. Users can contact staff via phone, email, or live chat. According to Rubin and Rubin, "Many academic libraries now provide alternatives to face-to-face reference service. Virtual reference services (VRS) using e-mail, chat, texting, and instant messaging are common..." (p. 174). This was evident on the library's website. The library does have special collections and archives, which are linked and explained on the library's website. Public users can search the library's catalog without logging in. The website also advertises upcoming events, like a "Food for Overdue Fines" canned food drive that they are currently hosting. (Students can trade in canned food donations for reductions in any overdue materials fines that they may have accumulated so far in the school year. The donated goods will go to a local food bank at the end of the food drive.) There are also recorded past events that students can access on the website as well. I didn't see any accessibility tools readily advertised for visual or linguistic needs on the site.

Fleming, S. (2022). Library Exterior [Photograph].

Space and Physical Access

The library has its own building on the campus of Liberty University. The building is massive, and because it's so newly built, it is really aesthetically pleasing. There are benches and seating outside of the library, as well as a waterfall wall that doubles as the sign for the library. There is no close parking; patrons will have to park elsewhere on campus and walk to the library, which may cause accessibility issues for some. There are elevators available once inside the library, however. The walls are predominantly made of glass windows, so you can see into the library's different levels from inside or outside of the building. There are at least three floors visible from the entrance. There is a massive staircase when you first enter the library, as well as seating, screens, circulation desks, and a hallway that leads to a connected cafe. To be on a level with books, patrons need to go to at least the second level. There, there are rows and rows of bookcases. Nestled between the shelves are worktables and whiteboards so that students can work in groups. There were tables and sitting spaces scattered throughout each floor. According to Rubin and Rubin (2020), "... changes in academic libraries reflected corresponding changes in classroom pedagogy, including greater emphasis on active learning and cooperative or collaborative learning in groups, mainly stemming from increased reliance on digital resources" (p. 171). This library definitely encouraged and was arranged for group work and digital access. Certain areas of the library, like the Jerry Falwell Museum, were closed at the time that I visited the library. The archives room was open, but you had to make an appointment to physically interact with any of the documents/artifacts. The space is definitely newly renovated. The inside was impressively clean. It had a little bit of a cold feel to me rather than the usual coziness that I feel inside of smaller libraries.

Fleming, S. (2022). Curriculum Library [Photograph].

Services and Intellectual Access / Collections

As I stated before, the library does have archives, special collections, and a museum. In addition, students can make appointments to have a librarian help them with research or locating items. There is an interlibrary loan process advertised as well. There was a "curriculum library" attached to the main library. This library features lots of children's and middle grade level books, as well as items like puppets. This library is intended for use for students in the education program, although the signage made it seem that children were welcome as well as long as they were accompanied by an adult. There were beanbags and flexible seating in this library that seemed geared towards children. Back in the main library, there was also a large bookcase with non-traditional library items available for checkout. The sign on the shelf advertised a "Beyond Books" program for items like tool sets, board games, kitchen tools, and hammocks. The library catalog is accessible through several touchscreen kiosks around the library. The books were organized by subject and then in a numerical order using a call number. There were signs on the walls that explained the organization system to patrons.

Fleming, S. (2022). Library Shelves [Photograph].

People: Patrons and Staff

This library primarily services university students and professors. There were spaces everywhere for students to sit and study, including quiet rooms, tables, and a massive stairwell that doubled as seating. There were many students present in the library during my evening visit. There were two librarians on the first floor at the circulation desks, answering students' questions, as well as student workers. There were both white students and students of color present in the library. This was true, too, of the librarians.

Other:

Overall, the library was impressive. I'd be proud to spend time in a library that looked like that if I was an LU student. It seemed well stocked and well-kept. Students seemed to feel comfortable in the space and to be taking advantage of a range of services.

References:

Rubin, R. E., & Rubin R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.