What role do academic library collections play in student research success?

Academic librarians develop collections that have varying levels of depth and detail. A student taking a survey course, such as English Comp I, does not need the same types of resources as a graduate student working on their thesis in Victorian English Lit. The challenge academic libraries face in providing a wealth of core resources comes down to cost and space. The expansion of electronic databases, such as JSTOR, has allowed for stacks to be replaced with study areas, but not every resource needed can be supplied from an electronic resource. Generally, academic libraries are reluctant to weed collections in the way public libraries do. Old travel guides in a public library are generally discarded. Some stay in academic libraries though

Research assistance means more than having a librarian sit at a reference desk. At many academic institutions, librarians are embedded in academic departments as liaisons (to work with faculty on coll dev needs), bibliographic instruction resources (often done in class), and on faculty governance committees. Why are these things important? They allow the librarians to understand the full depth of the academic institution, and ensure that they can offer the best assistance possible, given their budgetary and space resources. Whether at the reference desk or in a class, librarians promote student success by finding the best resources available, explaining how to derive their context, and offering guidance in proper citation of these items.

Special collections and archival materials offer excellent resources for students. Many of these collections have primary source documents not available elsewhere. Some may assume these resources are best suited for students in areas like art, literature, and history, but not STEM disciplines. This is an incorrect assumption. Some special collections reading rooms have rare publications or notes of scientists that allow students to understand the world view of earlier generations. Think about how a 19 year old undergrad would feel about seeing an original Apple IIe or Commodore computer when learning about changes in technology. The value of special collections areas is that they introduce students to things they may never have known.

During my time in graduate school, I needed two required texts for a summer course. As most students know, textbooks are expensive. In addition, it can be difficult to obtain a copy in time, especially for a short semester such as the summer. Fortunately, I was able to use my library's Interlibrary Loan service to access these texts. This greatly reduced my anxiety, and allowed me to participate (and flourish) in my final course in graduate school.

As someone who is interested in genealogy, the ability to access certain databases has been instrumental in adding verified information with *cited* sources to my family's history. Previously, most of my family history was generated by oral history. While oral history is extremely important, especially in the age before information could be captured via film or audio, this has led to inconsistences and inaccuracies (in my personal case). Allowing patrons to have access to information resources to verify/correct family history allows them to open a new world into their past. Building a solid foundation based on verified sources has encouraged others in my family to add to the family story, from disparate pieces of information that they held.

Something else to consider might be non-traditional items that are loaned out to students. For example, at my university, we loan out calculators, laptops, presentation equipment, among many other items. All of these can ensure equitable access to resources that could alleviate financial stress on students and allow them to succeed. Another area that is common to academic libraries is that of Course Reserves. As many of us know, textbooks are expensive, and can be cost-prohibitive at times. While many universities are moving towards e-books or open access resources, this process is not complete. Having physical resources on hand for students to use for study can greatly alleviate financial concerns, and reduce stress on the students.