Washington State University Libraries and WSU Capital Planning and Development will have a town hall meeting from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Compton Union Building, Room 127. The public is encouraged to attend.
Ginny Steel, director of Libraries, said the input of university community members is important to the successful development of a long-range master space plan for the WSU Libraries.
“We encourage faculty, staff and students to share their insight and be a part of developing the vision for the WSU Libraries Master Space Plan,” Steel said.
The university has hired an architectural firm and library consultant to study the information needs of the university community and how the WSU Libraries can meet them. As a first step in the study, the two WSU units are coordinating the Nov. 10 meeting to gather input. A key part of the study will be an analysis of current and projected growth of the holdings within the university library system, in addition to assessing the need for seating, study, collaborative and operational spaces, said Camilla S. Rice, project manager for Capital Planning and Development.
The master space plan will propose growth models based on improved utilization of existing facilities, predictions for electronic and hardcopy collections growth, predictions about the impact of technology on space needs, and future facilities.
“The primary goal of the WSU Libraries is to continue to bring expertise to build collections and services, thereby meeting the community’s changing needs for information,” Steel said.
She said the Libraries’ strategic plan is to move toward becoming an “Information Union” that will connect users with information resources; provide spaces where students, faculty and staff can interact one-to-one or in groups; provide technology that will enable users to manipulate and create information; and provide staff to teach students, faculty and staff to be knowledgeable, skilled users of information.
The Pullman campus has six libraries that vary in size and are located within or adjacent to colleges they serve. They include the Architecture Library, the George B. Brain Education Library, the Fischer Agricultural Sciences Library, the Health Sciences Library, the Holland/New Library and the Frances P. Owen Science and Engineering Library.
For additional information, visit Web sites, University Strategic Plan, www.wsu.edu/StrategicPlanning, and Library Strategic Plan, www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/general/dept.htm .
