CSU shares wealth with Turlock
Turlock Journal 1/6/07
One of the resources that California State University, Stanislaus offers to the city of Turlock is a comprehensive university library.
“Some students think it's just a place to read and study, but it's much more than that,” said Andre Garza, a reference and instruction librarian at the university library. The university library can be considered the “intellectual center of campus,” according to Garza. The CSU Stanislaus library holds over 360,000 volumes. The library also purchases more than 5,000 books every year, about half of which are requested by professors to support their research fields and the courses they teach. The university library cites their collection strengths being in the areas of humanities and social sciences.
The university library has seen some recent improvements and looks forward to more in the future. In the summer of 2006, library staff went through the entire building, getting rid of old furniture and rearranging the rest to make more open, comfortable spaces for students to study throughout the library. The library is committed to a sustained effort aimed at making the library a more appealing place to be.
One of the biggest additions in the library's recent history was the “Collaboratory” in the spring semester of 2006. Named for the opportunity for students to collaborate, as well as experiment and explore together in the library, the “Collaboratory” is a 24-station open computer lab located in the reference area. The computers are identical to those in the existing Office of Information Technology lab downstairs from the main library. The “Collaboratory” provides students with the same access to all customary software and hardware, Internet, print capabilities and technical help that is offered in the original lab. The difference is that this computer lab is right in the middle of the reference section and very close to the referencedesk.
“The idea is that students don't have to leave their computer to complete their research projects; they can do initial research, get research help, brainstorm, and actually write their papers in the library without having to go elsewhere,” said Garza.
Also on the horizon is an expansion project for the library. The project is currently scheduled to begin construction in the 2009-2010 academic year and is scheduled to be completed by 2011-2012. According to Carl Bengston, Dean of Library Services, a feasibility study has already been done. This study includes information on how many square feet the expansion will be, approximate costs, and uses for the facility as a whole.
“This building is dated. It's time for new space and renovated space,” said Bengston. So far the expansion looks to add 75,000 square feet to the library building, as well as a renovation to the current building. As the project progresses, state bonds will need to be passed in order to pay for construction costs. Other projects on campus include the student recreation center and construction of a new bookstore, both of which will not be state funded.
“It will happen,” said Bengston. “If the bonds aren't available for start in 2009-2010, then we'll start in 2010-2011, or so on.”
A public library and a university library may serve many of the same purposes, but the main difference between the two is that a public library is there to provide general information to the public for anyone to read. A university library supports the education that is taking place on campus, according to Garza.
“Folks not affiliated with the university are always welcome here,” Garza added.
The public can purchase a Community Borrower's card that entitles them
to limited use of the university library's resources.