Though students are relying less and less on printed books, students are using the PNW library more than ever.
“Since the pandemic, there has been a greater shift towards digital materials, so people are using more digital materials,” said Sammy Chapman, Jr., a reference librarian. “Students are more tech savvy so for the library going digital helped the library.
“We have a physical collection of books in the library,” he said. “But we also have an electronic collection as well. … We have probably over 3,000 check-outs of electronic books so they are able to access these on their computer or on their devices.”
Today, the demand for digital media is greater than the demand for physical books. But since some students still use physical materials, the library tries to accommodate all.
Books also get donated. When the library does get physical books donated there are a few steps they go through to add it to the book collection. Such as looking at how recently the book was published.
Then they would ask “Well has that book been published in the last 10 years?” says Chapman. If it has been published between that time-frame as long as they don’t have a copy already. If they do have a copy they would put that book on the “free book cart” for students to partake in.
The PNW students use the library more than ever after the digital makeover it acquired.
Eloise Gonzalez a worker at the library says that “A lot of resources are found online now. We moved from the card catalog a long time ago and it’s online now.”
“For instance when people are remote learning, they were not in the classroom,” said Chapman. “After that more and more students these days used more technology. So the library adjusts along with the students. “I would say that the type of things that students look for are journals, journal articles, newspapers, and primarily all of those are electronic now as well,” said Chapman. They also provide databases, journal subscriptions, and e-books.
Even though technology is advancing people still come to the library for simple needs. Some people go there for silence so they can finish their work. Aaron Hutchins a junior psychology major says “I have a lot of assignments and I need a quiet place to work.”
Aaron was one of 7 people that won the contest on most frequent library visitors in the month of September. He says “Everyday I went. I take my academics very seriously because I’m on the track team and I try to mimic that. I was happy I got an award for going to the library.”
Students use the library for a quiet place to study and a haven for digital information nowadays. The library is thriving from the digital age, evolving. As well as students having an easier time accessing the library’s assets at their fingertips.
