Tag Archives: Library

Campus Life

Library construction is ongoing

 

By Carly Columbo, Correspondent

“Improvements can be noisy … we appreciate your patience as we try to make the library better,” says the sign that stands before the entrance of Northern Essex’s Bentley Library on Haverhill Campus. Inside, just eight computers stand in the library along with four tables directly behind them followed by bookshelves. There is also a computer lab housing around 20 or so computers. The Bentley Library is currently one floor, but in 2016, a second level will be added for students. The library is a vital resource for students, and the improvements being made should attract more students and provide more space and support.

“Right now, the library, study spaces and computers are all on one level,” says NECC student Thomas Matatall. “It can be a bit hectic. Sometimes I can’t even stay in there for too long because between the students chatting at the tables behind me and heavy traffic of students, it’s hard to focus on my work. This will give more space to the students.”

Many students find themselves having a hard time finding a seat at times when the library is more crowded.  Reference Librarian Susan Leonardi hopes the renovations will make the Library a more accessible resource for students. The floor plan for upstairs revealed an elaborate and spacious layout for students. There’s a reference desk similar to the one on the first floor when you first enter followed by a computer space housing 60 computers along with a computer lab. There will also be added meeting spaces, desks, study areas, administrative offices and a library classroom that can seat up to 30 students. Along with the work spaces, there will also be a lounge-like area with tables and couches where students can chat, relax and unwind between classes.

“We’ve downsized the physical book selection that was upstairs and moved all our books downstairs,” says Leonardi. The plan is to separate the library from the work space. The first floor will be devoted to physical books and the second floor will be strictly for studying, tutoring and working. The current computer lab will be turned into a “swing space” that can be used as a classroom when renovations are being made to the Spurk building and additional classroom space is needed. 

The IT department will also be moved inside the library so students no longer have to travel to the B building for additional tech support.

“The students will be able to access the library resources and IT help from one central location on campus,” says Leonardi.

“Now we will be able to direct students upstairs instead of over to the next building for additional support with blackboard and other IT questions they may have,” says Librarian Gail Stuart, who is head of reference services at Bentley Library.

Will this help students utilize the library to its best ability? Absolutely.

“An interesting fact to me is we have about 400 people come in and out every day, and most of them are students. I think with the addition of the computer lab the daily traffic will double,” says Stuart. “So far we’ve had 1,271 reference interactions, and 92 percent are from students,” Stuart explains, as she monitors all electronic questions sent to reference each semester. “The numbers can only go up with these improvements being made. Students will be aware of the resources when walking past the lab and it should bring in more of them.”

Along with the additional space, comes additional assistance. There will be more staff on duty to provide additional support to students.

“An additional librarian that specializes in IT and Blackboard will be on duty so more students can seek additional help with not only reference, but questions regarding Blackboard as well,” explains Stuart. “He or she will know a lot more about Blackboard than I would,” Stuart chuckles.

Campus Life, News

Library Renovations

 

A new computer lab and more overall space for students are coming

By Nick Pantinas

Correspondent

If you’re a returning student to NECC, you will notice quite the difference when you walk back into the Bentley Library.

That’s because its computer labs are currently undergoing a renovation.

All the books from the third floor have been moved down to the first to make way for a huge overhauling of the upstairs level of the library.

Gale Stuart, a 34-year NECC veteran and head of References Services, said, “There won’t be as much room for students during the renovation, but the end result will be an improved library with a new computer lab.”

With all this construction going on it may be an inconvenience for of students and staff, so keep this in mind if you’re planning on going to the library to study.

In the end, the benefits should outweigh the costs, though, as more space will be afforded to complete work and hold classes.

The construction of the new computer lab will be ongoing throughout winter break and will end right about when the spring semester starts.

Mike Gendron, the supervisor in charge of construction commented, “We expect construction to end around Jan. 22, 2016. . . once it’s completed, a raise and a vacation would be nice too!”

With the ongoing renovations of the college, NECC is looking to the future with upgraded buildings filled with new technology that benefit both faculty and students.

While the noise may be distracting, the results will hopefully have been worth the wait.

Features, Lawrence

Meet the new library director

 

By Jessica Freeman

“There’s more paperwork now” jokes, Mike Hearn, the recently appointed Director of Library Services. Hearn said his job is now more administrative, and that he misses being able to work with students directly.

Hearn hopes to “rebrand” the library to be a more focus based experience. Hearn wants the school to have libraries that can help to meet the needs of students of NECC, whether they can spend lots of time on campus, or are more distant learners that need help even when they are off campus.

Hearn started as NECC’s Director of library Services over the summer on July 1. Before this, he worked as a librarian on the Lawrence campus for eight and a half years. When the Lawrence library staff was asked about their former colleague, they spoke fondly of working with Hearn and all agreed it was great that he was the director of library services now. The Haverhill Library staff was also enthusiastic about having a new director in charge of the library.

Hearn has a Bachelor of Arts in American/United States Studies from Washington College in Maryland and a Masters of Library and Information Sciences from the University of South Carolina.

Prior to working at NECC, Hearn also worked in college libraries at Daniel Webster College and University of South Carolina.

In his new role, Hearn recognizes the challenges of working at a community college in terms of being able to reach students, and said he “encourages students to stop in and find out everything [the library] has to offer.”

These services include access to books and DVD’s, online resources, access to research assistances to help students and being able to call or text for help, among other services.

Hearn has also helped staff that teach information literacy courses. Information literacy courses are now a requirement for all NECC students. Hearn and the other librarians have done their part to help by creating the Lib Guides that can be found on the library’s website and can help students research and evaluate sources.

As for new technology being introduced to the campus, Hearn said that students “may know that they can borrow books and DVD, but they might not know that they have access to over 3 million items” from other colleges through the NOBLE group, and that the library, “also provides many electronic sources of information, including almost 40,000 eBooks, hundreds of audiobooks, and streaming videos.”

Although, Hearn is proud of the many eBooks the library has collected, he knows there are still students who will always want a tangible, real book they can use.

Hearn is working with the Lawrence Campus to transform the library from a smaller space located in the basement to a library more accessible to students. Hearn says the college hopes to change the Lawrence library by “opening a new Information Literacy Lab on the Lawrence campus this fall, which includes a library instruction classroom and media viewing center for students.”

Hearn hopes this will help students to be able to get more directed, accessible, one on one services from the library. Hearn also said that, the library would offer the same academic technology assistance to students as in the other library.

In Hearn’s work with the library, he sees that his responsibilities are not only to his typical patrons of both students and teachers, but also that of the greater community. Hearn recognizes that the NECC libraries, play a unique role in the area by being somewhat of a public library to some residents in the communities in which the campuses are located.

It is clear that Hearn is passionate about his job of being the Director of Library Services at NECC, and despite his new projects and paperwork, Hearn is still all about wanting to help students learn and access information in the easiest way possible for them.

Interviews were conducted with Mike Hearn over email, and during an in person interview.