Carol M. Newman Library

https://lib.vt.edu/ Digital Access

Newman Library’s website is fantastic and clearly shows who it serves. The homepage features a large photo of Virginia Tech students. The homepage pictured below has a search bar, front and center, with a headline, “What Are You Looking For?” I think this is an outstanding example of user-friendly design. The layout is not overly complicated but straightforward and uses effective call-to-action language. This feature lets users immediately access course reserves, databases, journals, eBooks, and more from the main landing page.

Virginia Tech. (2024). University Libraries [Screenshot]. https://lib.vt.edu/ Below the catalog search feature is a link titled “Access Matters.” This link takes you to Virginia Tech’s Open Access (OA) resource page. Rubin and Rubin (2020) state that the “underlying principle of OA is that scholarly research is a public good that should be shared unfettered by economic or intellectual property constraints” (p. 141). Virginia Tech displays this principle through its OA resources. From this landing page, databases without paywalls are accessible, and there are also LibGuides that help patrons navigate the research process using OA.

The website has a staff directory listing each member’s title, name, office location, phone number, and email. Patrons can also call or text specific numbers to ask a librarian questions.

Engaging job titles that stood out to me were “Fusion Studio Manager and Learning Space Assessment Coordinator.” Another position that caught my eye was “Head of Library Data Analytics and Assessment.” Virginia Tech has an extensive library staff, and it was interesting to learn about the different niche positions this library employs.

On the main page, there is a calendar widget that leads users to a “Library Events” landing page. There, users can see upcoming events. Online events have a blue online button beside the event title. There were many online events for patrons to access. Some of these events included classes on Python and Git. I found the Software Carpentry classes to be an outstanding offering.

At the top of the home page is a “Universal Access” button. If you click on it, you can pause all background videos and underline all links. You can also report a barrier and access Virginia Tech’s accessibility portal. This Portal allows users to retrieve resources, policies, legislation, and maps that promote accessibility for all.

Physical Space and Accessibility

The Newman Library is a large stone building made of “Hokie Stone” (Virginia Tech, n.d.). Hokie Stone is Appalachian dolomite, which contributes to the design theme of the entire campus, which is “descriptively called Collegiate Gothic” (Virginia Tech, n.d.). It reminded me of the buildings on Duke University’s campus, except Tech is surrounded by gorgeous mountains.

Keranakis, L. (2024). Newman Library. [Photograph]. The large wooden doors of the library’s entrance were automatic, and the entryway was handicap accessible. Bike racks and a book drop were also conveniently located out front.

I saw numerous campus buses go by. I parked at Perry Street Garage, which was the closest visitor parking to the library. My Garmin watch tracked the walk from the garage to the library as a sixth of a mile. This could be an issue for some patrons. However, the buses were also handicap accessible.

Newman Library was a treasure cove of unique indoor spaces. Below is a fun gallery that gives a little peek at the different types of physical areas patrons can use. The pictures include a reading room, meditation room, bench seating with TVs, and accessible seating.

Keranakis, L. (2024). Accessible Seating. [Photograph].  Keranakis, L. (2024). Bench Seating. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Meditation Room. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Reading Room. [Photograph]. The furniture was modern and inviting. Outlets and charging stations, along with smart TVs, were on every floor. Items and seating spaces were accessible to many patrons with special needs and different age groups.  Services and Intellectual Access

There were flat-screen TVs throughout each library floor that displayed slideshows of upcoming events and library information. There were all kinds of different signage throughout the library as well. As you can see in the gallery below, the various media types and how they adequately promote diversity are used. The collage image represents students' experiences studying abroad. I enjoyed looking at all the different places students can study abroad through the university.

Keranakis, L. (2024). Column Signage. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Computers. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Staff Picks. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Study Abroad Stories. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Trans Stories. [Photograph]. There were also public access computers scattered throughout the library, from which patrons could access the library’s catalog and the Internet. I noticed that the Newman Library uses the Dewey Decimal system.

I explored this library on a Wednesday morning before noon, and the campus was surprisingly crowded even though it was summer. The Newman Library was filled with an array of diverse patrons, from actual students studying to prospective student tour groups and their respective guardians. The library was bustling, and everyone was welcome. The visitors and students composed a heterogeneous population despite being in a small and rural area in Virginia. People (Patrons and Staff Members)

Newman Library serves the students, faculty and staff, citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and scholars and researchers from institutions participating in the OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program (University Libraries, n.d.).

Upon walking into the main entrance, I was greeted by two friendly library workers. I asked one worker if I needed a visitor pass, and she said I did not. She also told me that this library is technically public and academic. It is open to the public; anyone can get a free library card with a Virginia State ID.

It was busy inside the library, but everyone was working seamlessly beside each other. Some students were learning in well-designed study spaces scattered throughout each floor. I even saw a high school group in the prototyping studio while other students and visitors utilized the virtual environments studio. While I was visiting this incredible maker space, a lot of ideas and information were being cooked up, which was inspiring to me.

I saw what I assumed were workers on multiple floors of the library. Honestly, this library was so large and so busy when I visited that I’m not sure who was a staff member and who wasn’t. I did see older adults inside the different maker space studios, but they could have been older students. When I passed the studio's technology lending desk, all of the workers seemed like they were students. The staff members reflected diversity in ethnicity and age. Collections

The Special Collections and University Archives are housed on the first floor. The area was currently under construction and was very limited to the public. There was another particular collection area where patrons could access Virginia Maps.

This library had a wide variety of technology. Some tech features include the project design studio, the virtual environments studio, and a laptop and power charger self-checkout station.

The Newman Library also has an impressive equipment catalog. Patrons can pick up technology or equipment reserves at the Studios Technology Lending Desk. Microphones, ring lights, video games, sound recording equipment, and many more items are available for check-out. I was surprised to see items ranging from Astronomical Binoculars to a Backgammon set.

Keranakis, L. (2024). Virginia Maps. [Photograph]

The DSLR cameras and lenses are another incredible option. I even saw an embroidery machine. This was one of the most extraordinary things I learned about this library.

University Libraries. (2024). Equipment Catalog [Screenshot]. https://lib.vt.edu/

As mentioned before, Virginia Tech has excellent online information and resources about Online Access, but it was interesting to see the Open Knowledge Collection in person. 

Keranakis, L. (2024). Open Knowledge. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Open QR code. [Photograph]. Other Characteristics

The mission of Virginia Tech libraries’ is: “We enable people to cultivate ideas, develop capacities, and create knowledge. Users do this through the University Libraries’ provision of collections, expertise, services, and environments" (Aspirational Identity, n.d.). This mission was apparent in many ways during my visit. The entire library made me feel limitless. There was access to an incredible variety of technology equipment and numerous maker spaces on different floors.

As historic as the outside of Newman Library looks, it is very modern on the inside, which surprised me. The only thing that disappointed me during my visit was that I wished I could have had the opportunity to explore the Special Collections/Archives area more in-depth.

I am also highly interested in the project design studio. That space intrigued me the most, and I am curious to know what work is being done here. This entire visit changed my perspective on academic librarianship. I want to learn more about open education resources. It also piqued my interest even more in maker space design. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Newman Library, and I hope it was the first of many more trips to this epic learning hub.

Keranakis, L. (2024). Project design studio. [Photograph].

References

Aspirational Identity. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://lib.vt.edu/content/dam/lib_vt_edu/about/Aspirational_Identity_Aug2019.pdf

Keranakis, L. (2024). Accessible Seating. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Bench Seating. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Column Signage. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Computers. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Meditation Room. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Newman Library. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Open Knowledge. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Open QR code. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Project design studio. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Reading Room. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Staff Picks. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Study Abroad Stories. [Photograph].

Keranakis, L. (2024). Trans Stories. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). Virginia Maps. [Photograph].

Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.

Virginia Tech. (n.d.). All about Hokie Stone. Retrieved June 27, 2024 from https://www.vt.edu/about/traditions/hokie-stone.html

Virginia Tech. (2024). University Libraries [Screenshot]. https://lib.vt.edu/

University Libraries. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://lib.vt.edu/about-us/visitor-information.html

University Libraries. (2024). Equipment Catalog [Screenshot]. https://lib.vt.edu/