I agree that the library endures as the "backbone" of the academic culture of any college or university. During my undergraduate years, library collections and spaces helped me earn top grades. During graduate school, the electronic databases and reference librarians helped me numerous times with research papers and projects. Great article on an important topic.
Georgia Scholarof GA9:33AM July 06, 2010
How about consciously observing whether the college library is purchasing new books. This says a lot about the institutional commitment to faculty and students staying current and engaging in national debates on important issues such as climate change. This is particularly important if the college is far from other colleges and libraries. Naturally, if the interviewer talks to major school such as Brown this question does not arise. But many colleges now are slashing library materials budgets in order to afford other programs.
Conscientious Objectorof CA6:54PM June 23, 2010
You have a mistake in the 4th paragraph. You state, "U.S. News spoke a handful of experienced librarians..." I believe it should be, "U.S. News spoke to a handful of experienced librarians..."
Jimof FL5:23PM June 22, 2010
Sorry, CB of GA, I disagree. I've worked in an academic library 25 years and 30 years ago I was an undergrad at this same library. We hated to go ask the ref librarians anything because they'd likely take your head off or at the best cast grunt and point where you should go look. Service philosophy has changed here greatly in 25 years and at an increasing pace. I now work on the reference desk and we are MUCH more friendly than even 5 years ago.
cmof CO4:36PM June 18, 2010
"More and more colleges libraries have shifted to become service-oriented,"
I take umbrage at this. Every library I've worked in -- going on 30 years as an academic -- has bent over backwards to be service-oriented. Now the rest of the academy is finally beginning to notice, so it's addressed as though it were innovation.
This is hardly a shift.
CBof GA4:32PM June 18, 2010
Yes. I agree with you. Library is a nice place to visit (at least that's what I think).
When I was in school, library is one of my favorite place.
Now, I work as librarian in government eye hospital, dept. of opthalmology, medical faculty in my town. I do what you have described above and I love being librarian and always happy in serving people in regard of information services.
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Ariel of TX 4:19AM May 23, 2011
Georgia Scholar of GA 9:33AM July 06, 2010
Conscientious Objector of CA 6:54PM June 23, 2010
Jim of FL 5:23PM June 22, 2010
cm of CO 4:36PM June 18, 2010
CB of GA 4:32PM June 18, 2010
bagus ramdan 4:44AM June 18, 2010