Looking back over last year, it was fun! We began a major initiative to increase awareness about library resources with TCU students. We completed the redesign of the library's website with sections for Special Collections and the Friends of the TCU Library. And for the Friends of the TCU Library, the 40th anniversary celebration this past spring was a memorable occasion.
Many library resources are digital these days, particularly journals and databases. Many students come to TCU very well prepared academically, but not necessarily familiar with the breadth of digital resources accessible from a university library. If you are a high school student and haven't used databases with thousands of books scanned from the 18th or 19th centuries, or databases with decades of newspapers indexed by key word, or databases with streaming video of ballets and operas, how would you know to use these resources for your student assignments?
The need for this awareness was a focus for us this past year. We reached out to TCU students to increase their knowledge not only about the Library itself, but also about the Library's extraordinary collection of digital resources. Staff members who are library liaisons are matched with individual academic departments. They were busy this year teaching instructional sessions about databases and specialized resources on the web to demonstrate efficient use of these resources. We want TCU students to take advantage of the opportunities available to them through the Library. Our READ posters also tied in with these ideas, by increasing our "cool" factor with TCU students.
The big news is forthcoming next year. Library administrators are meeting with architects this summer to begin planning the renovation of the 1980s wing. The fall newsletter will have more information. Excitement is in the air! At any time, if you would like to share your thoughts or suggestions about the Library, please give me a call or send me an email.
Sincerely,
June Koelker
Dean, Mary Couts Burnett Library