I visited the James Branch Cabell Library at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for my academic library. I graduated from VCU in 2006 and have not been back on campus for many years. Things have changed quite a bit since my last time in the library. There is so much offered that I could not begin to touch on everything in one blog post. Here are some highlights!
Digital Access:
The Cabell Library website is extensive, easy to use, and provides lots of information for library users. Databases and research guides by discipline can be accessed. There are a variety of special collections available including comics, medical artifacts and rare books to name a few. There are links for library catalog, news, events, exhibits and blogs. Library staff are listed on the website along with contact information. Assistance from a librarian is available via the online chat, phone, text and email.
This library obviously serves university students and those conducting research. This is evident in the research support and help sections.
There is an online Lost and Found on the website with pictures of items found inside the library. I found this to be helpful and considerate.
The Space & Physical Access:
VCU’s Cabell Library is located downtown in Richmond, Virginia. The building is enormous and beautiful. Large letters identify the building. Many of the walls are entirely glass and allow tons of natural light in.
Outside, bicycle racks and public transportation are close by. There was an emergency call station on the sidewalk. The day I visited happened to be during Spring Break. While the campus was obviously not packed, there were still lots of people walking around outside.
The circulation desk, group study rooms, classrooms, and Starbucks can all be found on the first floor. There was a large display that I found particularly encouraging on the wall. According to the sign posted and https://youfirst.vcu.edu/ “29.3% of VCU’s first-year students are first-generation” college graduates-to-be. As a person who fits precisely into that category, I understand the weight that can come with such a predicament. Cabell Library has words of encouragement posted to help ease those who may be experiencing feelings of nervousness. This picture only shows a small section of the enormous collage. I stood looking at it and reading it for a long time. This display of support must be very comforting for VCU’s students.
The library’s second floor boasts tons of spaces for studying and/or group work. There are many different seating options and room sizes to accommodate users’ needs. The third floor is “quiet”. There is a nice reading porch available for those who would enjoy some fresh air while working. The fourth floor is “silent”. Special Collections are Archives can be found here.
The underground level of the library has lots of fun items for users to borrow. Inside The Workshop students can borrow cameras, sewing machines, projectors, microphones, and woodworking tools among other things. There is also a 3D printer, vinyl cutter and embroidery machine available for student use. IT support can also be found on the lowest level of Cabell Library.
Rubin and Rubin (2020, page 158) note that academic libraries of the future may need to consider “de-emphasizing bookshelves and creating collaborative spaces and spaces for library services such as writing labs and makerspaces”. It is obvious that these ideas were taken into consideration when Cabell Library was renovated several years ago. The amount of square footage within the library that has been designated for collaborating and making speaks to the library’s intentions of remaining relevant in today’s society.
Services & Intellectual Access:
I did not observe any special services or programs at the time of my visit. This is likely attributable to the timing of my visit during Spring Break. Signage can be found all over the library to help users find what they may be looking for. All shelves and rooms are labeled. Directories and maps available. There are many computers on each level of the library for patrons to use for catalog access.
People – Patrons & Staff:
While the library was not at all crowded, I did see people working on all levels. Most were working alone. I saw men and women using the library. Most were college age. The individuals I observed were of various races.
A full staff did not appear to be in the library. There was a gentleman working security at the front door. There was a younger man working downstairs in the makerspace but he did not have any clients to work with during the time of my observation. Two women were working the circulation desk and helping patrons who came into the library. They were very friendly and eager to answer any and all questions I had.
Collections:
Stacks are found on the first, third and fourth floors. Some hard copy journals and magazines were available inside the library in addition to microfilms and DVDs. When I spoke to the librarian at the circulation desk she indicated to me that there is storage off site for some additional items that are rarely used.
Tons of computers were available for student use. Copiers, printers and scanners could also be used.
Archives and Special Collections were available by appointment. There is an entire collection of artwork inside the library along with other periodicals and rare books.
Ohler and Pitts make an interesting point to ponder in their 2021 article regarding post pandemic academic libraries. “Academic libraries cannot miss this opportunity to finally leave behind the traditional physical repository”. This gave me more than a moment’s pause. I can not imagine a library without books. Ohler and Pitts (2021) do go on to say that “academic libraries will likely always have physical collections and the workforce necessary to purchase and manage them”. I agree with this statement but find myself wondering if university stacks, like the extensive ones at Cabell Library, will one day be a thing of the past.
Other:
I think Cabell Library at VCU is doing a great job of trying to meet the needs of its users. One set of restrooms was undergoing renovation and earplugs were available at the desk to minimize disruption for those studying. Masks, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes were all available in vending machines. There was a small food pantry with free items for those in need. Charging stations were scattered throughout the library. A lactation room is provided. Some individuals may be using the library resources virtually. There is even an option to tune in to Library Sounds to help set the mood at home! It appears that the library staff are really trying to be supportive of the various types of college students who can be found on the campus of VCU. Meeting all needs is a tough hill to climb, but Cabell Library is giving it an excellent effort!
Resources
Ohler, L.A. and Pitts, J. From peril to promise: The academic library post-COVID-19. College and Research Libraries News, 82(1). https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/24772/32618
Rubin, R. E. and Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.
Virginia Commonwealth University: James Branch Cabell Library.
https://www.library.vcu.edu/spaces-tech/james-branch-cabell-library/
Virginia Commonwealth University: VCULibraries Research Guides: Mood: At the Library.
I too graduated from VCU, longer ago than 2006 and I have not been back in the library since. I knew it had gone through renovations but wow on the description. I love all the natural light and windows. And all the support in place for students from the words of encouragement to the library of things with all the items you can borrow to the earplugs due to the work going on to the lactation room is so great for them fulfilling their purpose of supporting VCU students. I see that the Cabell Library offers a “provision of complementary services designed to impact learning and promote student success” (Fallin 2019; Spencer and Watstein 2017 as cited by Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 171). Like you, I cannot imagine a library without books. I do wonder if that is where some libraries are headed with declining budgets and also space considerations. I think I am going to have to visit this library and see for myself how different it is since I went there!
Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.
Go Tiffany! You will not be disappointed!
I laughed when I read about the Starbucks on the first floor of the VCU library. I recently visited my college library, and they have also added a Starbucks since I attended school there. It seems academic libraries and coffee go hand in hand. I have made a similar observation about academic libraries moving towards being “bookless” spaces. So many of their resources are already digital and I wonder in 10, 20, or 30 years if there will be any print items remaining?
I can honestly say that I rarely used actual books from the library when I was a student at VCU. And that was 16 years ago. There is so much more available digitally now than then. It seems strange to say, but I think book-free libraries may be in our future. I hope not though!
VCU sounds like a great library! I was surprised by the makerspace items this academic library offers. My undergrad library, which I also visited as you know, did not have these types of things available, but I think it would be great if they could. That being said, the academic library I visited also had cameras and microphones to use in their technology lab. Even the school library I work in, and visited, had these essential tools for students.
I was also pleasantly surprised to learn about some of the items available in the makerspace. The librarian gave me a brief explanation. Some tools are available to students specifically enrolled in the School of Art, School of Engineering, etc. However, the tools at Cabell Library are available to any and all students enrolled at VCU, not matter their field.
Emily,
The “first-generation college student” display was incredibly beautiful to me. For the last three years, I have taught AVID, which is a college prep elective class that provides targeted support for first generation college students. None of the universities we have visited for field trips have had any type of display like this, and I now have it in mind to share this aspect of VCU’s library with them! Also, how great is it that there is a coffee shop in-house? I had to go off campus to get coffee when I was using my college library.
“The Workshop” sounds like a great way to engage students in an entirely different way than study and research. It sounds like creative expression is valued in this library. The “Library Sounds” feature is such a personalized way to stay connected with students.
What a lovely library, Emily. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
-Allison
I love the Library Sounds! I’ve never given it any thought until seeing this option, but I completely understand how the white noise is comforting!
I enjoyed reading your summary of your library visit. There were many similarities between the VCU library and my academic library. I agree that the future of academic libraries will be more space focused and less stack focused. I think that the needs of students today revolve more around quiet places to study or collaborate and less on the physical volumes. I think it is important that academic libraries recognize the changing needs of students so they can continue to meet those needs.
Absolutely! I agree 100% with everything you said. I think VCU is doing a great job by offering TONS of space for individuals to work quietly or for groups to work together.