The Noreen Reale Falcone Library updates its book services to better serve students

When the Le Moyne College student populace returned to campus in August, many began to wonder why there were gaps in the library’s bookshelves and some materials have seemingly disappeared. Students who prefer the library for studying and research can rest assured that all materials are still available, though they may now be in different locations.

The changes have come about due to the library’s desire to provide better service for its students, and to reflect the changes seen in library trends across academia. The ideas behind this are to provide students with more room to work and combining departments so that students are not forced to walk the length of the library twice to receive an answer on how to do something.

Of note, the changes to materials’ locations are:

The reference stacks are now located in the rear of the library by Disability and Academic Support Services, where the teaching materials were formerly located.

The teaching materials and youth literature are now located on the second floor with the rest of the main body, on book stack L [between K and M].

Media Kits have been relocated to the second floor at the other end of the oversized section from the current periodicals.

Past periodicals have been archived online and can at resources.library.lemoyne.edu/subjects-ref/newspapers

Videos [i.e. DVDs and VHS tapes] are located in the same area as previous, but are more towards the middle of the library and the IT helpdesk.

The reference, circulation, and media desks are now blended into a single desk, termed the Library Services Desk, located at the front of the library by the door.

Lisa Doyle, the Access Services Library, said that the notion of combining the three desks came about so “No matter what the patron’s library needs are, they can get help all at the same desk instead of having to go from one desk to another.”

She went on to say further that this change will allow staff resources to be better used, student workers to be better trained, and patrons to have a more “one stop shop” experience so important with busy schedules.

Still, even though many materials have moved, students may question why there are so many shelves. After all, if there are still the same amount of materials, should it not occupy the same amount of space? The archiving of past periodicals and overall more efficient management of space has allowed the library staff to consolidate the materials more closely on the second floor of the library, causing the appearance of gaps on the first floor, Doyle explained.

What, then, are the plans for these empty shelves and the now-barren reference desk? Eventually, they will be taken down and converted into more seating and workspace for students to congregate and do homework. Essentially, the first floor will become more focused on answer student’s needs, both for library information and work space while the second floor will continue to house the majority of the materials with quiet work rooms.

Depending on how other renovations on campus complete their goals and the availability of workers, the staff hopes to see the changes completed by the beginning of spring semester, though certain renovations may not occur until the following summer.

All these changes have come about through the various departments and staffs of the library wishing to improve the function of the building and answer student requests for improvements. “All of a sudden,” Doyle said, “grassroots evolved and we said to each other, ‘You know what? let’s make this happen.’” And thus far, she is very pleased by how well the changes have been processed and how involved and curious the students are.

“If the students have any ideas, we’re always open to hear suggestions and ideas. We love to hear from them.”

For more information, students can contact Lisa Doyle at 445-4681 or stop by the new Library Services Desk to request information or fill out a comment card.