At the end of the Fall semester, MSU Libraries will begin the next phase of our long range plan for transforming Mitchell Memorial Library. Our goal is to provide more space for individual and collaborative student work; more services that meet the changing needs of students, faculty, and researchers; and more convenient organization of library collections.
Our faculty and staff have spent several years identifying our most critical collections and how best to organize them. In addition, MSU Libraries administrators have used surveys, focus groups, and other assessment tools to learn more about our users' needs:
- Students need spaces where they can study alone or in groups, and where they can learn, create, and master existing and emerging technologies.
- Faculty need facilities and equipment to record, edit, and remix audio and video for their lectures, podcasts, and presentations. Several would like MSU Libraries to provide virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tools to them and their students.
Phase I: Moving Collections, Creating Spaces
Begins: November 2016
Various portions of the collection will begin moving in November 2016 but the labs and group study areas will not be moved until after Fall exams are over. The Instructional Media Center and the Government Documents/Microforms areas will close on December 12 and will reopen in January when classes begin.
Redefining the Instructional Media Center
- The Instructional Media Center will be renamed "Digital Media Center" to better reflect the services it provides.
- Beginning December 12, it will relocate to the current Government Documents/Microforms area, on the northeast corner of Mitchell Memorial Library's 2nd floor. This will expand its footprint threefold and provide ample room for more technology, services, and study space.
Establishing the Educational Resources Collection
- On November 18, 2016, the new Educational Resources Collection (ERC) began moving into the former Instructional Media Center (IMC) with the shift of State Adopted Textbooks and teacher kit collections. The ERC will house the State Adopted Textbooks Collection, teaching kits, Juvenile and Young Adult Collection, and Microforms including newspaper microfilm, Early English Books, American Periodical Series, Early British Periodical Series, and the English Literary Periodicals.
- The relocation of these highly-used complimentary collections to the ERC marks our effort to streamline and support patron research and teaching efforts. The ERC will also include space for collaborative group study.
- The ERC will be staffed by the Education Librarian, a Library Associate, and student assistants. In Spring 2017, the tentative hours of operation will be 8:00 am until closing.
Rearranging Research Services
- To accommodate our patrons’ changing needs, Research Services will shift the following collections on our 2nd floor space:
- Frequently used Government Documents including census records
- Print newspaper and current journals
- The Mobile Writing Center will move adjacent to the Research Services desk to allow for additional collaboration and patron research and writing support.
- The Undergraduate Research Center will comfortably accommodate larger groups due to redesigned shelving and seating.
Collection Move: Quick Reference
United Nations Collection
moves to: Circulating Collection (integrated into stacks throughout Mitchell Memorial Library)
Kits, State Adopted Textbooks
moves to: Educational Resources Collection (behind Einstein Bros. Bagels)
Newspapers & Current Journals
moves to: Reference Collection (Research Services room)
DVD, Music CDs, Videocassettes
moves to: Digital Media Center
Government Documents Collection
moves to: Reference Collection (Research Services room)
Juvenile / Young Adult Collection
moves to: Educational Resources Collection (behind Einstein Bros. Bagels)
Microfilm / Microfiche Collections
moves to: Educational Resources Collection (behind Einstein Bros. Bagels)
Congressional Record
moves to: Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library
Phase II: Expanding and Enhancing the Digital Media Center
Fundraising is currently underway to support Phase II of the transformation plan. Designed around the Makerspace concept, this phase includes the addition of new spaces, technologies, and services to the Digital Media Center to meet the evolving needs of students, faculty, and researchers. The resulting expanded Center will become the place for creating, teaching, and learning the latest digital tools and technologies.
Along with the existing suite of technologies and services including one-on-one instruction, and workshops, the expanded Center will include:
- TV Production Studio
- Developed through a partnership with the Department of Communication
- 3 high-definition production-quality cameras, a green screen, a digital display, and a control room will allow students the full experience of creating a TV show
- Designed for use by Broadcasting classes; available for use by other faculty and students upon certification
- One Button Studio
- Developed by Penn State; provides an automated and simplified recording studio
- Ideal for faculty recording lectures and students practicing and recording presentations
- Audio recording booths
- Providing technology and quiet spaces for audio recordings - voiceovers, music compositions, tutorials, and more
- Makerspace
- A collaborative studio space for creative endeavors
- Providing laser cutters, engravers, vinyl printers and cutters, sewing machines, button makers, binders, laminators, 3D scanners, 3D printers, and other tools
- New teaching/collaborative lab and group study/meeting rooms
- Available to faculty and students
