August 23, 2007
Student Fee Brings Enhanced Library Hours
Thanks to the recent passage of the Library Fee, students will be able to spend more time in the library than ever before. Effective August 23, 2007, the Undergraduate and Grainger Engineering Libraries will offer extended hours.
The Undergraduate Library will be open:
Monday-Thursday: 8am-3am
Friday: 8am-10pm
Saturday: 10am-10pm
Sunday: 10am-3am
In addition, the Undergraduate Library will offer overnight “study hall” hours:
Monday-Friday: 3am-8am.
The Grainger Engineering Library will be open:
Monday-Thursday: 24 hours (always open)
Friday: 12am-9pm
Saturday: 10am-9pm
Sunday: 10am-Midnight
Surveys of undergraduate and graduate students conducted at Illinois in 2004 and 2005 demonstrated great demand for increased hours in major campus libraries, including the Undergraduate Library and the Grainger Engineering Library. Students, along with other Library users, also “voted with their feet” by visiting physical libraries in tremendous numbers. In 2006-2007, combined in-person visits to the Undergraduate Library and Grainger Engineering Library totaled almost 1.5 million. These users utilized the world-class collections, attended workshops and classes, consulted with librarians, and took advantage of new and enhanced Library services. These numbers confirm that the new generation of students continues to place great value on the library as place—to study, conduct research, relax, and interact with others.
Approved by the Board of Trustees in March 2007, the Library fee supports a number of initiatives, including but not limited to: developing electronic media and digitization; increasing library hours; improving information technology services; creating and enhancing tools for online learning and research; and increasing the positions focused on direct support of student learning and services. The extension of hours in both the Undergraduate and Grainger Engineering Libraries demonstrates the Library’s commitment to meeting the needs of current students.
Thanks to all our students!
Posted by swalter at 6:41 PM | TrackBack
August 15, 2007
Orientation Activities
The new year is upon us here at Illinois and librarians will be active across campus over the next few weeks providing orientation programs for students, staff, and faculty across campus. For those looking to learn, please visit our Library Orientation and Outreach schedule for Fall 2007.
Looking at the schedule is not only a testament to the work of our librarians, but also a good way of seeing how many academic, administrative, and student services programs across campus make the Library part of their welcome to new members of the UIUC community. In addition to many programs aimed at academic departments and units such as the Graduate College, this year's list of partner programs includes University Housing, the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Office of Academic Human Resources, and Campus Recreation.
If you're new to Illinois, let us be the first to say, "Welcome to campus, and here's your Library!"
Posted by swalter at 4:23 PM | TrackBack
August 14, 2007
Diversity and Multicultural Outreach Site Launched
One year ago, the University Library made a commitment to enhancing services to diverse student populations through the recruitment of Emily Love, Outreach Librarian for Multicultural Services. Anyone with an interest in issues related to diversity in libraries, or with an interest in our expanding range of outreach services and instructional programs for diverse user communities can now visit the Diversity and Multicultural Information site.
The site provides an overview of Library and University resources related to support for diverse campus communities, as well as links to research guides and instructional materials related to the study of diverse communities in the United States and abroad. It also provides an introduction to our increasingly robust set of outreach programs and our valued campus partners in these efforts, including our upcoming Multilingual Library Tours on August 29th and August 30th.
Posted by swalter at 8:32 AM | TrackBack
August 13, 2007
Academic Advising @ Your Library
As part of the Learning Commons initiative, Meg Burger (Undergraduate Library) and Chris Armstrong [Campus Center for Advising and Academic Services and incoming Chair of the Academic Advisors Group at the University of Illinois (ILLiAAC)] have been working together to build a formal connection between the Library and campus academic advisors. While we have long worked with UIUC faculty to provide services for students, this new relationship brings an opportunity to connect with a group of professionals on campus who have had no formal liaison to the Library, but who provide essential academic services to undergraduate students.
Over the past year, an advisor from the Campus Center for Advising and Academic Services has held advising hours in the Undergraduate Library. In its first year, we have seen 7-10 students take advantage of each 2-hour advising window in the Undergraduate Library (with an average interaction time of 10 minutes per student).
In addition to providing an opportunity for advisors to meet with student in the Library, we have provided professional support to academic advisors across campus. UGL librarians have developed two regular resources for academic advisors and their advisees:
*a newsletter aimed at advisors that highlights professional development resources available to them through the University Library; and
*a newsletter aimed at students that highlights key library resources and services for undergraduates and is delivered directly to over 3,500 students each month through an academic advising electronic discussion list.
Learning takes place across campus at the University of Illinois, and partnerships such as these allow the University Library to join its colleagues in providing direct support for student success.
Posted by swalter at 11:59 AM | TrackBack
August 2, 2007
More (Digital) Ink for New Services
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign News Bureau has published a news release on our new digitization project blog (Digitized Book of the Week).
