A Space to Gather and Learn

It’s not at all surprising that university research libraries, according to the nonprofit Council on Library and Information Resources, are taking on a range of new roles in the digital age, becoming “more deeply engaged in the creation and dissemination of knowledge.”

Eastern’s JFK Library & Learning Commons is no exception, having evolved in recent years to accommodate the latest advances in collection development, information access and user services.

This summer saw more progress as the library completed a much-anticipated series of services upgrades, including an expansion of digital resources, improved organization, greater access to its collections and an increase in quiet study and collaborative spaces.

Many of the changes, library officials say, came in response to feedback from the campus community, including faculty members who requested additional databases to support student-faculty research and experiential-learning projects.

Other improvements included a consolidation of books on the upper level of the library’s campus building, which increased access to — and convenience in — browsing among the stacks. Books that hadn’t been borrowed in 20 or more years were shipped out, creating additional space for current and emerging curriculum needs. Maps were redesigned to help students more easily discover resources, services and study areas.

“We’ve already had positive feedback from patrons over the summer and intercession. We encourage everyone to check out the improvements, both physical and new online resources,” says Ielleen Miller, an associate professor at EWU who serves as library faculty chair and director of the School of Libraries.

Many of the projects were years in the works, says Miller, adding that “they were only made possible with the dedication of all of the library staff, faculty and our fantastic student workers.”