PROSPECTIVE & CURRENT STUDENTS' GUIDE TO EVALUATING LIBRARIES

AND LIBRARY  TECHNOLOGIES AT

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

A Guide for Prospective and Currently Enrolled Students

Association of Colleges and Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association, is a professional association of academic librarians. Its mission is to  “enhance the ability of academic libraries and information professionals to serve the information needs of the higher education community and to improve, learning, teaching and research.” ACRL prepared a guide, Student’s Guide to Evaluating Libraries in Colleges and Universities, for perspective students assisting them in evaluating the libraries of colleges and universities they may chose to attend.  

This guide provides a series of questions and answers that may assist the students and parents in understanding how Tennessee State University students use  library resources, services, and  information technology daily. This document examines the role of libraries and library technology at Tennessee State University according to the questions outlined in ACRL student guide.

Library Resources and Services in the following areas:

Facilities

The electronic information that is accessible from your residence and other locations may meet some of your information needs, but the campus library will provide an important environment for your education. In the library, you will have the opportunity to receive individual and group instruction, to study alone or in groups, to obtain assistance with assignments, to use books and journals, to use computers for accessing databases and web-based resources. (ACRL)

Evaluative Questions and Answers by the Library

• Is the Library building easy to find?

Yes, the Main Campus Library is located in front of the Campus Center and surrounded by residence halls, Clement Hall, Education Building and Biology Building. The library entrance is across from the Campus Center.  (Click here for pictures of the Main Campus Library.)

The Avon Williams Campus Library is located on the first floor of the building at 10^th and Charlotte. (Click here for picture of the Avon Williams Campus Library)

• Can you easily find your way in the library?

Signs are available to assist you in finding departments and resources throughout the libraries. You can always ask library faculty and staff for assistance. (Click here for pictures of signage)

• Is the Library space inviting?

Both libraries have been renovated within the last five years. The carpeting and furniture are attractive with lounging and browsing areas as well as computer labs. (Click here for a tour of the libraries)

• Is there adequate space for users and collections?

Both libraries can use additional space for seating, materials, computer stations and Learning Commons areas. Electronic journals and books and digital research materials assist in alleviating  some of the space problems. (Click here for pictures)

• Is there a variety of study spaces?

Yes, both libraries provide study rooms and computer labs. Study areas also include tables and chairs and reading areas. ( Click here for pictures of the study areas)

• Are the library hours convenient?

Yes, the Main Campus Library is open 91 hours Monday thorough Sunday. During the mid-term exams, the main campus Library is open 24-hours for four days and during the final exams 24-hours for five days. The Avon Williams Campus Library is open 73 hours.

• Can the library accommodate any disabilities or special needs you may have?

Yes, the Main Campus Library provides a special computer for visually challenged students and a telephone for students with hearing disabilities. The Media Center at the Avon Williams Campus provides a special computer for visually challenged students. Both libraries work closely with the Disabled Services in providing special assistants to those students who are in need.

• Are multimedia production facilities available for your use?

The Main Campus Library and the Media Center are in the process of developing a Learning Commons where students will be able to work on multimedia projects.

Resources

A quality library collection consists of information in a variety of formats  and requires sustained support over many years for adequate development. Increasingly, electronic information is supplementing the wealth of print and other types of information available in most libraries. However, most information remains available only in print and will remain so for the foreseeable future. As a result, you will find important information available in a variety of  formats. Careful consideration and evaluation of information in all formats is always important. (ACRL)

Evaluative Questions and Answers by the Library

• Is there an adequate collection in a variety of formats?

Yes, the libraries’ collections are adequate and they are in various formats and they include         

                        363,823   Print Books (Click here for the Online Catalog)

            200,000   Electronic Books (Click here for Electronic Books)

                            1,386   Print Journal Subscriptions (Click here for Journals)

                             276    Online Databases (Click here for List of Databases)

                      888,562    Microfiche

                        10,202    Microfilm

                          1,200   CD-ROMs

                               24   Streaming videos (Click here to view FMG Streaming Video)

• Is the collection sufficiently current?

Yes, the collection is sufficiently current. The age of the book collection is as follows:

The online databases, electronic and print journals and e-books are also  current.

• Is there a web-based catalog?

Yes, there is a web-based or online catalog to access print and digital resources. Library’s web-based catalog is titles TIGRIS. (Click here for the Online Catalog)

• Are there electronic tools for locating magazine and journal articles?

Yes, the libraries provide access to 276 online databases and Complete List of Online Journals (Serial Solutions) to locate magazine and journal articles. (Click here for the online databases and Complete List of Online Journals)

• Are required readings available electronically?

Yes, required readings are uploaded in the Libraries’ Electronic Reserves called Docutek by the instructors or librarians and they are accessible at all times from any location. (Click here for Docutek)

• Are resources available electronically in full-text format?

Yes, resources are available in full-text format via online databases and electronic books and journals. In addition libraries provide archival digital resources on the Special Collections Webpage. (Click here for archival digital resources)

• Are library resources available remotely?

Yes, library resources are available remotely. (For more information click here for Off-Campus RODP)

• Will the library readily obtain materials for you that are not owned by the library?

Yes, the libraries provide Interlibrary Loan services for those materials that are not owned by the libraries. (Click here for Interlibrary Loan Services) In addition, ATHENA, a thirteen institution consortium for resource sharing and TALC are available for students to request books from and use in other Tennessee academic libraries.( Click here for ATHENA and TALC)

Services

Library services support your college experience. These services may range from providing photocopy machines to having librarians available to assist you in locating information from a variety of sources. Therefore, it is important to understand and appreciate the variety of services offered to enhance your chances for academic success.

Evaluative Questions and Answers by the Library

• Is sufficient staff available to help you?

Yes, there are five reference librarians and one reference Assistant at the Main Campus Library and four librarians at the Avon Williams Campus Library to assist students in seeking, finding and evaluating information. In addition, librarians in other areas of the library and library assistants are available for providing help.(Click here for the list of librarians and library assistants)

• Is the staff friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and available when you need them?

Yes, the respondents to the Library User Satisfaction Survey continuously rank the library staff excellent and good. All librarians have the terminal degrees for Library and Information Science, some have double masters and four have doctorate degrees. Librarians and library assistants are available to assist students at all times during the opening hours.

• What instruction programs are available to teach you how to use the library?

The Libraries provide orientation and bibliographic instruction to individuals, groups and classes. In addition, during the academic year, graduate and undergraduate instructional seminars are available. (Click here for the Libraries’ Information Literacy page)

• Are computers available to teach you how to use the library?

Yes, there are two smart classrooms with computer stations and instructor’s station used in the orientation and bibliographic instruction classes. In additions, the librarians assist the students in using the library resources and services via the computer labs. (Click here to view the smart classrooms)

• What ways can you access the library from your personal computer?

Students may access from their personal computer all research materials, including online databases, e-journals, e-books, digital collections, online catalog and services including, interlibrary loan, consortiums, Ask-A-Librarian reference service, orientation and bibliographic instruction- PowerPoint and digital, Art Gallery and others.

• Are there fees for services, such as printing? If so, are the fees reasonable?

There are no fees for printing and other services with the exception of interlibrary loan services where the lending institution may charge a fee for the material loaned or late returns.

• What services are available on a 24-hour basis?

All online research materials including databases, e-book, e-journals, digital resources, tutorials and Ask-A-Librarian service via e-mail are available on a 24-hour basis. The Main Campus library is open 4 days during the Mid-Term Exams and 5 days during the Final Exams providing reference and circulation services.

• Can you get help electronically, such as via an e-mail question to a library staff member?

Yes, students can get help electronically via e-mail by using the libraries’ Ask-A-Librarian.

• How does the library support distance education if the college or university offers courses you can enroll in from off-campus?

The libraries support off-campus courses by providing 24-7 access to digital  resources and services such as tutorials, interlibrary loan and reference services.

• Does the library support emerging technologies such as laptops, palm pilots and e-books?

The libraries support emerging technologies by providing access to digital resources including databases, e-books, e-journals, tutorials and computer labs and smart classrooms.