2008 Woodie Awards
Library puts HSU vision to the test
Heather Brewer
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: The Future of Humboldt State
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Card catalogs sat in place of reference computers. Turnstiles stood in the doorway of the library at Humboldt State University. Since the 1970s, the building has advanced, but the staff wants the future of the library to be more than just a place for old books.
Humboldt State University has a vision to offer students an excellent education and the opportunity to make a difference. The library is dedicated to this vision, but the staff faces the task of keeping up with technology and managing budget cuts.
In 2003, President Rollin Richmond announced the formation of a Strategic Planning Committee comprised of faculty, senior administrators and student representatives to revise Humboldt State's Strategic Plan.
The summary of this plan, from the office of the president, states in its vision: "Humboldt State University will be the campus of choice for individuals who seek above all else to improve the human condition and our environment."
Students working toward this vision - from the first-day freshman, to the 80-year-old Extended Education student, to the graduate student, all use the library.
Interim dean of the university library Ray Wang said he agrees with many others on campus that classes should be the priority for a university. As the university's center, he said, the library fits into the university's vision as an important piece of the learning puzzle.
The library budget, however, has been continually cut since before 2003. Librarians have not been able to purchase new books for the last three years, Wang said. The library staff, he said, became very creative in offering an atmosphere that is still conducive to the needs of students. "Budget cuts are a change we have to deal with," Wang said. "Everyone has to live with less."
Bob Snyder, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, said that all administrators on campus should consider the vision to be a part of the budgetary process. "Whether or not the Humboldt State vision is closely connected to the decision to allocate resources," he said, "I'm not sure."
The program review that he is facilitating will eventually include services like the library, and hopefully the budget will adhere more effectively to the vision, he said.
Judith Little, chair of the sociology department, started teaching at Humboldt State in 1980. She said that university librarians have done an excellent job compensating for the lack of new books and journals by supplementing full-text articles on Internet databases. But, she also remembers the excitement of flipping through a journal and finding additional information.
"I think it is horrific that the university maintains that we want to produce good graduates and professional research when we take money from the library," Little said.
Printing prices and publishing companies that sell to corporate entities also affect the library's ability to budget effectively, said Joan Berman, Special Collections Librarian at Humboldt State.
"At an eight-to-10 percent annual increase in journal subscription costs," she said, "nothing budgets for that."
The students have noticed the lack of new books at the library, but their main concern is the availability of computers and library staff to help them.
Ampha Mannorind, a senior social work major, said she thinks the library is really important to the Humboldt State vision. She said that when she thinks about studying, she thinks about the library.
Mannorind hasn't had a problem finding what she needs at the library. But she hasn't used all of the resources because she couldn't find anyone to help her.
Wang and the library staff worked with Provost Snyder on plans for a future space in the library called a learning commons. In this space, students can get help with writing, math, and research. The library will collaborate with student services and academic services, to offer a one-stop academic fitness center, said Wang.
Berman said one of the best things about the learning commons is that it will pool service resources and provide more people to help students. The provost hopes that a small pilot project of this idea will be implemented in the next year.
No library staff members were fired, but a few retired recently and were not replaced. That means more work for remaining staff, at the same pay.
Berman and all the librarians struggle with the lack of resources for the library. But their commitment to education is unwavering. "It is about staying true to the vision," Berman said.
Heather Brewer can be reached at hib4@humboldt.edu
Humboldt State University has a vision to offer students an excellent education and the opportunity to make a difference. The library is dedicated to this vision, but the staff faces the task of keeping up with technology and managing budget cuts.
In 2003, President Rollin Richmond announced the formation of a Strategic Planning Committee comprised of faculty, senior administrators and student representatives to revise Humboldt State's Strategic Plan.
The summary of this plan, from the office of the president, states in its vision: "Humboldt State University will be the campus of choice for individuals who seek above all else to improve the human condition and our environment."
Students working toward this vision - from the first-day freshman, to the 80-year-old Extended Education student, to the graduate student, all use the library.
Interim dean of the university library Ray Wang said he agrees with many others on campus that classes should be the priority for a university. As the university's center, he said, the library fits into the university's vision as an important piece of the learning puzzle.
The library budget, however, has been continually cut since before 2003. Librarians have not been able to purchase new books for the last three years, Wang said. The library staff, he said, became very creative in offering an atmosphere that is still conducive to the needs of students. "Budget cuts are a change we have to deal with," Wang said. "Everyone has to live with less."
Bob Snyder, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, said that all administrators on campus should consider the vision to be a part of the budgetary process. "Whether or not the Humboldt State vision is closely connected to the decision to allocate resources," he said, "I'm not sure."
The program review that he is facilitating will eventually include services like the library, and hopefully the budget will adhere more effectively to the vision, he said.
Judith Little, chair of the sociology department, started teaching at Humboldt State in 1980. She said that university librarians have done an excellent job compensating for the lack of new books and journals by supplementing full-text articles on Internet databases. But, she also remembers the excitement of flipping through a journal and finding additional information.
"I think it is horrific that the university maintains that we want to produce good graduates and professional research when we take money from the library," Little said.
Printing prices and publishing companies that sell to corporate entities also affect the library's ability to budget effectively, said Joan Berman, Special Collections Librarian at Humboldt State.
"At an eight-to-10 percent annual increase in journal subscription costs," she said, "nothing budgets for that."
The students have noticed the lack of new books at the library, but their main concern is the availability of computers and library staff to help them.
Ampha Mannorind, a senior social work major, said she thinks the library is really important to the Humboldt State vision. She said that when she thinks about studying, she thinks about the library.
Mannorind hasn't had a problem finding what she needs at the library. But she hasn't used all of the resources because she couldn't find anyone to help her.
Wang and the library staff worked with Provost Snyder on plans for a future space in the library called a learning commons. In this space, students can get help with writing, math, and research. The library will collaborate with student services and academic services, to offer a one-stop academic fitness center, said Wang.
Berman said one of the best things about the learning commons is that it will pool service resources and provide more people to help students. The provost hopes that a small pilot project of this idea will be implemented in the next year.
No library staff members were fired, but a few retired recently and were not replaced. That means more work for remaining staff, at the same pay.
Berman and all the librarians struggle with the lack of resources for the library. But their commitment to education is unwavering. "It is about staying true to the vision," Berman said.
Heather Brewer can be reached at hib4@humboldt.edu
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