The University’s Jerome Library is ranked 11th on the “50 Most Amazing College Libraries” list by collegerank.net.
According to the website, the Jerome Library’s construction began in 1965 and named in 1982 after the sixth president of the University, William Travers Jerome. The library is not only a study and learning area for students and faculty but is also open to the public.
“We’re really very pleased to be listed amongst such prestigious libraries,” said Sara Bushong, library dean.
“A lot of libraries have tutoring centers but not like ours,” Bushong said.
The difference is that the University Learning Commons is larger in square feet than most libraries tutoring centers. The Library also offers all aspects of tutoring for all majors, math, and writing.
The library offers other study spots as well. The seventh floor is dedicated to group study, and the eighth to quiet, individual work.
Among the collections the Jerome Library has to offer is the music library, which contains over one million sound recordings, similar in size and scope to that of the Library of Congress.
Head Librarian in the Browne Popular Culture Library, Nancy Down agrees with Bushong. “I definitely think it’s our collections, like the popular culture collection. It’s unique,” Down said.
The popular culture library isn’t the only unique thing about the Jerome Library. Down also shared that the Library has the third largest comic collection and other collections of things students can’t find in other libraries, such as original movie and television scripts, action figures ranging from marvel character to the twilight series, and even a three-dimensional star trek collection.
“People think of libraries as just checking out books, but that’s not what libraries are like anymore,” said Dean Bushong.
Instead, she said libraries have many formats to consider. Between the main library and depository, the University has over two million volumes. Annually the library circulates about 300,00 print volumes, has 2.4 million database searches done, and have students download 800,000 journals.
The library doesn’t only circulate print books, but also laptops, kindles, a go-pro coming this fall, chargers, video cameras, and digital cameras for student use.
“We’re trying to be responsive to student needs,” Bushong said.
She shared that over the last few years, the Library has been doing visioning work to make the library a destination place for students. The first floor offers computer tech assistance, helpful librarians, computer labs, and the Learning Commons.
In the future, the Library will be redoing the 7th floor by this fall, which will include additional group study rooms by reservation along with more and different furniture based on student suggestion. Jerome Library will also be celebrating National Library week. Each day at the Library will be something new, including free donut holes, elevator dance parties, and Authors and Artists, where students are showcased.
“Were getting pizza for staff to celebrate ourselves because librarians don’t really do that. We’re always worrying about other people,” Dean Bushong said.
