The nature of information transfer in today's digital environment is more fluid than most people would have believed possible only 10 years ago. On behalf of their patrons, libraries – especially university libraries – across the world must operate in a state of almost constant transition. An exponential increase in the quantity and quality of scholarly electronic content that is available remotely and around the clock has led some to question the role of the physical library. The University of St. Thomas’ libraries, however, are busier than ever and experience double-digit increases in use year after year. Balancing the investment in the “virtual library” with attention to redesigning the libraries’ physical spaces is a continuing challenge.
St. Thomas will continue to address this challenge by combining physical and virtual resources into collaborative learning and teaching spaces that address many different scholarly needs of students and faculty members. These new spaces will blend technology, digital resources, and traditional library services and support to enhance the academic work that is done daily by members of the university community.
The academic library of the 21st century recognizes the social dimension of learning. A recently completed coffee shop in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center, in addition to creative programming including readings, exhibits and concerts, already has led to large increases in the use of the building. This suggests that the remote use of digital content can indeed coexist with the increased popularity of the physical library. In fact, some research has shown that high-quality digital collections and higher use of library buildings go hand in hand.
The revitalized library will be an integrated technology-and-information center that will foster student learning, enhance faculty research and create informal teaching opportunities. It will enable a library program that provides printed and digital collections, computing resources, media, information-literacy programs, tutoring, advising, instructional and social space, and student and faculty services. In addition to housing valuable print collections and reference librarians, the library will provide spaces for students and faculty members to interact, attend technology training classes and have access to technology services. Finally, the library will provide the much-needed space that students and faculty members need to collaborate in settings that resemble those in which, as St. Thomas alumni, they will be working after graduation.
An endowment of $1 million will be used to support the continued acquisition of subscriptions to digital information resources. The remaining $4 million will be used for renovation and furnishings in the libraries. This enhancement of new research- and library-service models will benefit students directly by increasing their access to learning opportunities.
Specifically, this technology- and information-rich environment will feature:
Just as the village common was a gathering place for information exchange centuries ago, the renewed academic library will be a meeting place for the exchange of ideas and information in the digital age.