Library Instruction at GVSU Benefits Student Success
Have you wondered about library instruction and how it can benefit students? A GVSU Library study found a positive correlation between library-led instruction and student retention. Find out more about what library instruction looks like at GVSU and hear directly from liaison libraries about their role in this process.
The Digital Creator Lab
Are you interested in renting a camera or starting a podcast? Do you need help on a digital project for a class? The Digital Creator Lab is here to help.
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Publishing Partnership Success: The Ten-Year Anniversary of Journal of Tourism Insights
Journal of Tourism Insights hit a milestone on January 27, 2021. The official refereed publication of the Resort and Commercial Recreation Association (RCRA), has created an open access publication venue for high-quality, peer-reviewed research in the Hospitality and Tourism field, reaching a global audience, for ten years.
How to Find a Book
Do you need to check out a book but aren’t sure how? University Libraries house more than 1 million different titles. We utilize the Library of Congress call number system. Many students are unfamiliar with using this system, so it can be overwhelming to know where to start. As a User Experience (UX) student employee at the Mary Idema Pew Library, I understand the problems that students encounter. I created instructions to help students find books quickly and efficiently. If you need help, the staff and students at the service desk are always happy to assist you, too!
Frequently Asked Questions: What Is A Liaison Librarian?
Have you ever heard the term “liaison librarian” and wondered what that means? Has your professor suggested meeting with a liaison librarian for help with an assignment? Have you had a class visit from a librarian to learn more about library resources? University Libraries receives a lot of questions about what exactly a liaison librarian is, what they do, and how they can help students. We asked the liaisons themselves to weigh in on some of these FAQs. To contact a liaison librarian with your questions, visit our website to search by subject areas. If the answers to your questions aren’t here, contact a liaison librarian to learn more.
Virtual Knowledge Market
In Grand Valley’s Knowledge Market, highly-trained peer consultants offer support for crucial interdisciplinary skills: reading, writing, speaking, and researching. Although the Knowledge Market is currently located in the Mary Idema Pew Library on the Allendale campus and the Steelcase Library on the Grand Rapids campus, it houses a variety of academic support services including University Libraries, the Speech Lab, and the Writing Center. To increase equity and access to support, the Knowledge Market is adding online assistance to meet the needs of underserved populations at Grand Valley, such as students taking online or hybrid courses, studying abroad, with families or careers, at satellite campuses.
Furniture Testing at University Libraries
Have you ever wondered how furniture is selected for library spaces? University Libraries works closely with Facilities Planning and tests every table, chair, and study spot to gather student input before making decisions. We will soon be furnishing a new library space in the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health at 333 Michigan and we have already begun testing out new types of furniture.
Collections Review: A New Approach
Collection development at University Libraries is a balancing act between supporting the curricular needs of the institution while also providing materials and resources that stir curiosity and foster inquiry. Our strategy has long been proactive, collecting things based on known areas of scholarship and buying materials in case a need should arise. As the scholarly publishing landscape shifts and demand for instantaneous access increases, however, we are constantly evolving our collecting strategy in order to keep up.
Library Research Scholar Creates OA Advocacy Toolkit
Why aren’t students more engaged with Open Access?
Erin McIntosh used that question as the basis of her research as a Summer 2019 Library Research Scholar.
Fall 2019: Dean's Message
Liberal Education and Open Education Resources (OER) are natural allies in the creation of students who become lifelong learners and active citizens. Both the freedom of information and the free access to information are critical to learning.
The Impact of First-Year Faculty Librarians
In the fall of 2017, Grand Valley State University Libraries joined the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance, a program that seeks to increase the retention of qualified academic librarians from underrepresented groups by creating opportunities for skill development and leadership early in their careers. As a result, the University Libraries welcomed two visiting faculty members, Melina Zavala and Preethi Gorecki, who are innovating new and creative approaches to instruction and research.
Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides guidelines for developing curricula, selecting materials, and creating learning environments that consider the wide variability of learners in higher education. Through the intentional adoption of the best practices of Universal Design for Learning, Grand Valley State University Libraries demonstrates its ongoing commitment to inclusion and equity.
Library Excellence Award: Debbie Morrow: "Liberal Arts Nerd at Heart"
In 2017, Morrow was recognized by University Libraries colleagues with the Library Excellence Award, which is awarded to a faculty or staff member who goes above and beyond their job description. For Morrow, the best part of being a librarian is "any occasion when I can be an advocate for faculty and students in my liaison departments. I'm not here to tell people 'no we can’t do that,' I'm here to help find a way."
Morrow describes herself as a "liberal arts nerd at heart." Her personal belief in the value of liberal arts education helped shape her career and continues to inform her dedication to helping students, faculty, and staff be successful.
Knowledge Market Services Support Nontraditional Students
Knowledge Market consultants met with students from the Brooks College of Liberal Studies Accelerated Leadership Program during their second semester to highlight the wealth of resources available to them at Grand Valley State University and build skills to support their work throughout the rest of the program.
Document Delivery
Document Delivery is a service that allows students, faculty, and staff to request items at Grand Valley State University Libraries or from other participating libraries. When the item is ready, the requestor will receive an email with the electronic version, or an alert that the physical items can be picked up.
About Off The Shelf
Off the Shelf shares the impact of University Libraries on faculty, staff, and students at Grand Valley by highlighting resources, services, and the work of our faculty and staff members. If you have any questions about resources or services discussed in Off the Shelf, please contact University Libraries to learn how you can use them to benefit your work.
Learn More
For more information about Off the Shelf email Jon Jeffryes at [email protected]