Author: jfowl007

The Space and Physical Access

Gildersleeve Middle School is a large, modern-looking school building situated in Newport News not far from the Christopher Newport University campus. It’s tucked away at the end of a long tree lined drive and is surrounded by wood giving the school an isolated feeling. The library itself is located on the second floor right by the elevator and at the top of the stairs by the entrance so it is both easy to find and accessible. Upon entering it immediately looks and feels like a school library. It does show a bit of wear but it is very cozy and has plenty of seating and tons of books that line sturdy wooden shelving. Most of the shelving is lower than expected to accommodate the height of a middle schooler, but one of the best features of the physical space is that several rooms with different purposes extend off of the library placing the library at the center of what essentially feels like a learning commons. There’s an AV room, a makerspace, and some offices tucked between the shelves that line the walls. The book return and main desk are the first things you see upon entering and the librarian’s office is right behind it and visible so even if the librarian is in her office, you can still see her and get her attention.

Customers, Collections, and Services

Most of the students that come into the library come as part of a class where they are given time to browse and pick out books or they can come with a pass issued by the teacher as well. Due to the pandemic, all students and staff coming into the library are required to sanitize their hands before handling the materials. During summer when I visited, the library would typically have 2-3 instruction periods per day though it varies, but during the school year it is more consistent. There are spaces for students to sit and read or do homework during the day, but there are no after school hours so the library closes with the school. Essentially, students are mostly coming in with classes for instruction or they are coming in to grab books and go. The librarian and others are working to establish the makerspace and they already have a lot of technology such as 3D printers, Ozobots, Spheros, and tons of crafting and maker supplies in the area that will at some point be made available for students.

Like many school libraries, the rest of the collection is organized using the Dewey Decimal system and is split into fiction, nonfiction, and encyclopedias. One unique part of the collection was the stories collection which separates out all of the books containing anthologies compiled by multiple authors (such as short story collections) and puts them in one spot for easy visibility and access. Another concept I was not aware of before my visit was something called a diversity audit where the school is audited and provided with the demographic data of their population. The librarian is also provided with the demographics of the collection. The librarian told me that she looks at the numbers and tries to add more books related to any neglected demographic areas while also curating the collection to reflect the demographics of the student population. She said it was important the students see themselves reflected in the collection. One of the core values of ALA is that librarians “value our nation’s diversity and strive to reflect that diversity by providing a full spectrum of resources and services to the communities we serve,” (ALA, 2019). Such an approach to building a diverse and relevant collection definitely aligns with that.

Staff

Gildersleeve’s library is staffed by one degree holding librarian and one library assistant who is a paraprofessional or non-degree holder. As the readings discussed, most library services can be separated into user services, technical services, and support services managed by multiple departments (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, pg. 95) but at this library, two people act in every capacity. The librarian is responsible for not only providing instruction but for managing the collection, working with technology issues and developing things like a makerspace, budgeting, auditing and weeding the collection, and supervising one employee. This seems to be common among school libraries, particularly smaller ones where one librarian fills multiple roles.

One of the things I noticed while I was visiting was that the library staff does not man the front desk at all times but rather keeps an eye on things sometimes from the desk and sometimes from the office. They do greet each person that comes in and make themselves known at the desk and in the office just behind it, however. At first I was concerned at the lack of visibility but when I asked, she explained that many of the students feel more comfortable browsing without the teachers hovering over them, particularly at the age most middle schoolers are at. She is able to see the whole library and be reachable from her office and she said it was important that they feel free to look around and make their own book selections. As I watched, she almost instinctively could tell when someone needed help and tell when they were content to just look around. Although you can make the case that it might be better to appear more visible, the few students who did need help knew exactly where to find her if she wasn’t at the desk and no one was left waiting. I thought it was an interesting approach and showed a good understanding of the needs of the customer base.

Digital Access

The library does not have its own independent website but it can be accessed from the main school’s website at http://gildersleeve.nn.k12.va.us/library.html. The webpage dedicated to the library is very bare. It lists the contact information for the two library staff members, provides links to Sora (the school version of OverDrive/Libby) as well as a few databases and the catalog, and that’s it. It’s very easy to navigate, mostly because there isn’t much there. A more inviting website might be preferable but it is definitely user friendly since there is not an overabundance of information. It’s there to be functional and that is all.

One unusual part of their digital access is that unlike many school libraries there are no computers available inside the library for students to use to access the internet or search the catalog. According to the librarian, they used to have them but the technology department was unable to set the computers up to be catalog-only and they had to be removed. Luckily all students are issued Chromebooks so they can use those to search the catalog and access databases from the website. They can also access downloadable books from the library through the Sora platform, which is a school version of OverDrive/Libby, and use those at home. As Rubin and Rubin discussed, the way most library users access information is changing and increasingly shifting towards a digital format (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, pg. 93). Whereas a school library a decade ago would need computers in the facility, the lack of them is a non-issues with every student being issued a Chromebook. Instead the school librarian has adapted the way they teach students to engage with library resources.

Other Thoughts

Entering this library was like stepping back in time to the school libraries I haunted as a kid and that has pros and cons. On the one hand Gildersleeve does a great job based on my observation of connecting with their students and giving them access to materials. They have a lot of ideas such as the makerspace that would likely be a huge success. The problem is a lack of funds as it always is in schools and a lack of staff. The library definitely looks its age, though it does make it feel more comfortable somehow, but the collection is meticulously maintained within the aging facility. There are touches of modernity in the exclusive use of Chromebooks in accessing the digital resources and in the smart boards but much of the signage and the tables and chairs look like they have seen better days. All that to say the library feels welcoming; both of the staff members are friendly and they are engaged with their students. They treat the teens like people, not like little kids. All of the students I saw come through had no problems following the rules and finding books. My overall impression is that a strong staff that can create a strong collection and who really cares about their kids can make a nice space for their students using the tools they have. It doesn’t have to be top of the line to be good.

References
American Library Association. (2019). Core Values of Librarianship. American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues

Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.

The Space and Physical Access

The Tidewater Community College/City of Virginia Beach Joint-Use Library, or JUL (pronounced like “jewel”) is a very unique library in that it is a joint venture between Tidewater Community College (TCC) and Virginia Beach Public Libraries (VBPL). It is half public library downstairs and half academic library upstairs. For the purposes of this post, I will be concentrating exclusively on the academic library half of this joint venture and not the public half. Located on the Virginia Beach TCC campus, the JUL is the biggest library in Virginia Beach, nearly 1/3 bigger than the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library and serves as the main hub for TCC libraries in Hampton Roads. Most of the administrative offices for the library department are held here as is the entire cataloging staff. JUL is situated on the back end of the TCC campus right on Rosemont Road, which is a bit of a drive for most of the city, however what it lacks in being easy to locate, it makes up for in being enormous and impossible to miss as long as you can find the campus. The building looks like a cross between a small shopping mall and a large university library which it partially is. Although it has plenty of parking, access to the building is both hidden and confusing. The entrance is technically situated on the side of the large curved building and the nearest accessibility parking spaces are quote far from the front door. They do have temporary parking up front for quick pick ups but anyone looking to linger is in for a walk, and that is just to get inside the building.

Access to the academic Library is available through the stairs that you immediately encounter upon entering or elevators which are just off of the side of the stairs. There are multiple elevators throughout the building to allow access to the academic and public half throughout the extremely large space. When you first enter the academic library, you are immediately met with a large reference desk in front of a huge computer area and rows of bookshelves. Interspersed among the bookshelves are several displays highlighting topics relevant to classes and events being held at TCC. When I visited there was an amazing theater display that highlighted a lot of books and resources relevant to theater students. Like many academic libraries, the space feels both cozy and awe-inspiring. There are plenty of tables and study carrels available for reading and working and there’s also plenty of computers available as well. JUL also has dozens of study rooms available that can be reserved online. Almost all of the books that you immediately encounter are academic in nature; there is little-to-no popular reading. What sets JUL apart from different academic libraries that I visited is the more modern look and feel to it as well as the tons and tons of windows that span the entire length of the building. Even upstairs this space is very bright very open and very airy

People, Collections, and Services

JUL has 12 to 15 staff members in its building, the majority of which are degree holding librarians. There are also several paraprofessional level employees that are referred to as Library specialists and two cataloging staff members down in the distribution center that handle cataloging and deliveries for the entire TCC library system. The librarians primarily handle working the reference desk, answer reference questions both online and in person, and provide instruction for TCC classes. They do a lot of InterLibrary loans in particular and usually work closely with professors to develop instruction. While most of the access to journals and scholarly publications has moved online, they do still retain a sizable reference collection as well as a test collection specifically for test prep.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the collection that impressed me was their ESL collection. The ESL collection is organized into reading levels based on English comprehension and then color coded to indicate the different levels. When students attend the ESL classes they work with the teacher to determine what level of books they should check out so that they can then go to the library and easily find what they need. The color coding helps mitigate any language barriers as it gives them a way to identify books without relying on English while still giving them the opportunity to practice their language skills. Not only is this a huge win for accessibility, but it also speaks well to the collaborative efforts between the academic library staff and the TCC teaching staff. In our readings, Rubin and Rubin talk about how academic libraries have shifted to be more modern in both how they are built and laid out and also how they apply pedagogical principles by facilitating more active learner activities (Rubin & Rubin, 2020). JUL is definitely representative of this idea in how its collections support existing classes and incorporate directly into active learning activities arranged between the professors and the library, such as the ESL collections set-up.

In addition to instructions and engaging students with the collection, JUL also provides reference assistance in person, online, and by phone. All of the TCC librarians at all of the campuses rotate monitoring the TCC library “Ask a Librarian” chat service. JUL librarians and library staff also work the reference desk and answer phones providing reference assistance in both locations. Of the librarians I spoke to, many agreed that the most challenging part of their services is having to establish with students that they are there to get them started with research skills, not to do research for or with them. In a public library, librarians will routinely take down questions, do research and provide and answer. By contrast, JUL, like other academic libraries, will recommend resources, help students develop search strategies, and direct them to databases and books that might be relevant/ It is a more “teach a man/woman to fish” principle. However, because the building also grants access to all of the college materials and databases to the general public by virtue of being a joint-use library, the staff often have to tailor and adjust their approach slightly depending on whether they are assisting a student or a general member of the public. Coming from a public library, it was interesting to see how questions that I would be expected to answer for people would not be handled in the same way in the academic library.

The academic library is primarily used by students looking to study. While JUL does do reference appointments, the librarians mentioned that the majority of people who come into the building are coming in to make use of the study areas and conference rooms. It’s especially slow during the summer or during semester break where there are not a lot of students attending classes. Working with the general public does increase the amount of customers they get and much of the assistance they end up providing is helping public library card holders access and use the academic facilities. Anyone with a VBPL card can use TCC’s academic resources, database, and computers though there are some specialty computers and materials set aside exclusively for access by TCC students. JUL also hosts some college events in seminars in a large area known as the Crystal and those are typically attended by a lot of students. Overall the academic library caters towards a more study-driven and workspace-seeking crowd.

Digital Access

The academic side of JUL does not have its own website but does have its own web page under the larger TCC Libraries website which can be found at https://libguides.tcc.edu/LibraryPage. The home page links to several helpful subject guides on topics such as LGBTQ+ and Anti-racism. The catalog search covering all TCC holdings is also available on the page along with the Ask a Librarian feature, news alerts, links to student resources, links to faculty resources, and contact information for the department at large. The website is very bare bones but it’s easy to navigate. JUL’s webpage can be found under the campus libraries section and provides contact information as well as information about specific information about some of the features at JUL. One of the more useful links is the one that leads to study room reservations so users can book specific rooms in advance. Additionally, since the collection is half academic and half public, the JUL webpage has a link to a page that features both the TCC catalog and VBPL catalog search features so users can quickly access both holdings. The overall TCC library website also features resources for creating citations, finding articles, research guides, and more. Overall the website is pretty user friendly, though it is a bit difficult to find from the TCC page. It’s easiest to find by Googling TCC or JUL.

Other Thoughts

The academic section of the Joint Use Library is a beautiful space with lots of the offerings you would find typical of an academic library. Having it so easily accessible to the general public as well as students is a unique concept and a valuable resource to the community. There are a lot of databases and print materials available for research and there is plenty of space to study and collaborate. The staff were very friendly but they take a kind of hands off approach to their services, which could be explained by the nature of the more instructional services an academic library has to offer. The hours are also often chaotic and subject to change. Currently they close almost everyday except Monday by 5 (Tidewater Community College, 2022) which is not conducive to most students looking to do homework after classes or work. It certainly is not helpful for the general public of working adults, though they are more the target of the public half of the building than the downstairs. What was most disappointing was the underutilization of the building. The entire time I was there, there were three students total in a building that could easily hold hundreds. I frequent the public half often for meetings and it holds consistently true there as well. Even downstairs the public sector maybe had a handful more. Whether it’s location, the intimidating nature of the building, the weird hours, the unusual nature of the library, JUL does not often have crowds unless there are events going on. Out of curiosity, I checked the door count data since it’s tracked as part of VBPL and was shocked to see they were only the 6th highest out of the 10 Virginia Beach libraries and had less the 2/5ths of the door count of the highest branch, which was Central (Virginia Beach Public Library, personal communication, May 14, 2021). With so many wonderful resources and unique opportunities for students and the public to get the best of both academic and public libraries, it’s a shame to see how many people don’t take advantage of it. I can’t recommend enough that everyone stop by JUL and check out all the neat things they have. It’s such a unique place and they have a lot to offer for academic and public users alike.

References
Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.

Tidewater Community College. (2022, Jun 29). Joint-Use Library. Tidewater Community College Libraries. https://libguides.tcc.edu/JUL/.

The Space and Physical Access

The Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, or Central as most customers and staff call it, is the central branch of the Virginia Beach Public Library (VBPL) system and is one of ten libraries. The Central Library is the main hub of VBPL and host a variety of departments services, and collections that are not found in the other locations. It is also the library I have worked at for the last 12 years. Opened in January of 1988, this two story library is located just past Virginia Beach’s town center and is very hard to miss from the road. While the library is easy to find with ample parking, the sheer size of the building does make it difficult to situate accessibility parking close to the main entrance so these spaces are located near a side entrance that features door opening button. The entire front side is curb free, which accommodates mobility aides and they allow temporary parking here for quick access as well.

Stepping into the building you will immediately see sunlight and books. The building is full of windows which makes the space bright and open but it also makes it hard to control the temperature so be sure to bring a sweater in the winter. Central recently underwent renovations and part of it was getting lower, more accessible shelving for our audiovisual equipment, relocating our children’s area to a larger and safer area downstairs, adding both kid-friendly and gender neutral bathrooms, adding desks of varying heights for accessibility needs, and rearranging our collections to be more user friendly. Inside you will find two study rooms, a coaching room used by volunteer career and resume coaches, over 40 computers, a computer lab, a Friends of the Library Bookstore, a dedicated teen space, a dedicated children’s space, and tons of tables and chairs and booths for studying. They also have two large meeting rooms and an auditorium for use in programs and outside groups. The main service desk is right inside the door and is staffed by 2-3 staff members at a time while there are also staff desk in the children, teen, and reference areas. Both the upstairs, downstairs, and youth desks have lower desks to accommodate kids and anyone using a wheelchair. Like many of our branches, Central also provides three scooters for anyone who needs help getting around the large space. Central is a good mix of large and open with some cozy corners to read in. Still, it is a bit intimidating walking through the front doors as you are almost bombarded with desks and books and people and computers and much more due to the open layout.

Staff, Collections, and Services

Being at the Central Library comes with a lot of opportunities to learn new things as many of our special collections and services are housed here. Some of the things Central offers include a seed library, 3D printing, a reference collection that includes special collections on grants and small business, a municipal reference collection, the local history and genealogy collection, the Edgar T. Brown Local History Archives, career coaching, a community art gallery, the Community Book Club Collection, and the Local Author Collection. Central staff also are entirely responsible for all emails, texts, and phone call that come in to the library and handle the majority of reference questions, tech helps, and 3D printer orientations for the system, though other locations also offer these three services. During Tax season Central also host AARP volunteers who help hundreds of citizens every year file their income taxes for free. Most recently, VBPL partnered with United Way to open the VB Thrive center, which is also at Central and provides service for families who might require mentoring, housing, workforce development help and more. In addition, Central has partnered with Social Services to help customers experiencing homelessness in our community, Central is a designated pick-up spot for anyone who needs to visit the Housing Resource Center (HRC) in Virginia Beach and they can ride from Central and the Oceanfront to the HRC for free. Central also has social workers in and out of our building several times a week as they reach out and make connections with some of the regular customers who need help with housing or food or other basic necessities.

Part of the reason so many services run through Central is the number of library departments in the building. One of the ideas that stood out for me in our readings was Rubin and Rubin’s statement that “Although dedicated reference departments still provide important information access services, this responsibility can be shared by several library units or by individuals who do not necessarily work in a reference department,” (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p 96.). That is true of Central and having worked here for so long, it makes sense why I was particularly engaged by that philosophy. The Central staff is comprised of all of the system’s reference librarians in addition to 30+ circulation and information staff, but the building also hosts the Marketing, Technology Services, Materials Management, and Program and Community Outreach departments, all of whom provide information and library services to some degree. Central is a walking example of the aforementioned concept of reference in modern libraries not falling exclusively on the reference department. However while they do have a diverse amount of staff and a diverse amount of positions, the majority of degree holding librarians at Central are white women and the most diversity is found among the general circulation and information staff, or paraprofessionals. This harkens back to one of early readings regarding vocational awe that discusses how job creep and under compensation can often effect who can afford to work in libraries or seek out the required higher education to hold the title of librarian (Ettarh, 2018).

Last but not least Central offer programs for all ages on a variety of topics and are working to diversify those offerings as well. For example, in recent years staff have offered both Drag Queen Story time and English Conversation Club. The latter gives people a safe space to practice their conversational English with other learners and with native speakers. I personally specialize in adult programs, mostly in technology skills. I especially love providing 3D printer orientations and tech helps because I love seeing someone’s face light up when a new skill clicks. Right now, Central is in the middle of the annual Summer Reading Challenge for kids and tweens and Camp Evergreen for teens and adults. Camp Evergreen is a unique experience for teens and adults to read books and attend programs together to earn virtual badges like summer camp.

People (Customers)

Most of the space inside of Central that is not dedicated to books and computers is dedicated to seating and collaborative spaces as Central is mot frequented by people looking for a place to work or meet or study. More so than the branches, Central cultivates a customer base primarily interested in using the library as a meeting destination. On any give day there are tutors, seminars, workshops, meetings, teleconferences, and more taking place throughout the building. The number of computers available also brings in a ton of job seekers and remote workers who need wi-fi and printing.

Families and teens also tend to gather here due the large dedicated area for both groups. Teens in particular have a dedicated space just for them with teen librarians and teen programming staff who make connections, get to know them, and provide them with a safe space. Most branches have some version of a teen space, but Central has one of the largest and the staff goes out of their way to encourage teens to use the space in a way not every branch does.

Digital Access

Presently, VBPL is preparing for a website re-design and it is sorely needed. Central does not have it’s own website but instead falls under the VBPL website which exists under the larger city website. There are a lot of good things about the website, but the web address is not one of them. The website can be found at: www.vbgov.com/libraries and the major complaint and problem Central runs into with the website is the confusing coupling of both “gov” and “.com” in the address. Most people think it’s vb.gov.com/libraries and we get a lot of feedback about the difficulties this causes. Luckily, this will be changing to a longer, but less confusing web address in the near future. Still, the website is full of information and most of our services and materials can be found here. The catalog is listed right on the front page and it links to both our physical and digital holdings. Our programs, events, account logins, and popular pages can be accessed without too much difficulty, but the site has a lot of layered pages that lead to some long routes to get information. For example, to locate information about volunteering, you have to go to www.vbgov.com/libraries, click on “adults,” click on “volunteer,” click on “adults” again, and then click on a link to an external site. Even then the external link shows all volunteer positions, including youth and teens so it can be very confusing.

The website does list all of our locations, policies, hours, and branch managers, which does make finding things a bit easier and our technology services staff does a great job updating it regularly. It is rare to find out of date information on the website, though it does happen. Truthfully there is almost too much happening on the website and it can be a little overwhelming to figure out how to navigate it.

Other Thoughts

The provision of this wide variety of spaces and services at Central aligns with the VBPL mission statement which states “We meet the lifelong needs of our diverse community by providing access to quality resources, engaging programs and welcoming spaces,” (City of Virginia Beach Department of Libraries, 2021.).  Having worked at the Central Library for so many years, it was educational to examine my branch from an outside perspective to evaluate if we truly meet that mission. I was instantly amazed when I had to put to paper all the services that we provide, but that amazement was coupled with the realization of how much we have to improve. While Central does it’s best to be accommodating to everyone, there are still more ways we can manipulate such a large space and make it more accessible. We carry a lot of resources but the sheer overwhelming volume of special collections and services can sometimes mean that not every staff member you speak to knows how to use or access every single one of those services on an expert level, there are simply too many. Ideally Central would benefit from dispersing some things, such as library phone calls and emails, to other branches to better balance the load and avoid the risk of creating a single point of failure for information. Most of the branches at VBPL are neighborhood libraries and focus more heavily on their immediate service areas while Central is intended to structure their services to the city at large and be a hub of information and services. I personally prefer it because I get a chance to do so many things, but some librarians may prefer the more person touch you get to have at the branches. All of that being said, I strongly encourage everyone to visit the Central Library, even if it’s just to take a look around. There is always something interesting happening here!

References

City of Virginia Beach Department of Libraries.(2021). Our strategic plan: libraries leading the way 2021-2025. City of Virginia Beach. https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/libraries/about-us/Documents/STRATEGIC%20PLAN%2021-25%20SUMMARY%2012page%20Booklet-WEB.pdf

Ettarh, F. M. (10 January 2018). Vocational awe and librarianship: The lies we tell ourselves. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/

Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.

The Space and Physical Access

The Sargeant Memorial Collection is a special local history and genealogy archive library that is located in Norfolk, VA. It is named after William H. Sargeant, the first librarian to be hired in the City of Norfolk in 1897 and the creator of the original archive (Norfolk Public Library, n.d.). The SMC is housed in one part on the Slover Library and is considered a branch of the Norfolk Public Library system while Slover is loose affiliate. When you first walk up to the library (and you will definitely be walking because there is no parking to speak of except in one of the many garages that are at least a block away) it’s actually the Sargent Memorial Collection (SMC) building that first draws the eye. As pictured above, it resembles a Carnegie library building of old and brings to mind what many people think of when they think library, however the entrance is actually tucked away beside it as you cannot access the building from its exterior.

To gain entry, you have to go up the stairs or accessibility ramp on the left, through the automated doors, past security, and through the lobby of the Slover Library itself. When you walk into the glass and chrome and LED-lit atrium of Slover, it brings to mind a shopping mall or hotel lobby more than a library. There are no books to be seen from the entrance. Stepping left into the SMC makes you feel like you are stepping back in time to an old 1970s era library. When you step into the half of the building housing the SMC, you are immediately met with traditional dark wooden shelving with inlaid yellow lights, a dark orange carpet, the typical fortress information desk, and ornate marble columns and ceilings peaking around the close together shelving. The first floor of the building actually houses Slover’s adult fiction collection with the SMC beginning on the second and extending to the third floor which is accessible by stairs and elevators. It feels both welcoming and familiar and cozy if you are like me and love the look and feel of old libraries, but it also can feel somewhat dark and intimidating compared to the bright shininess of Slover just a few feet behind you. One of the more interesting aspect of the SMC and Slover is that the staff offices are all visible from the public areas, they aren’t hidden away in a separate staff are like I’m used to with public libraries and this actually makes it feel like help is more accessible. Heading up to the second floor, the center is dominated by a large reading era that is brightly lit with sky lights from above, making a nice contrast with the surrounding galleries of bookshelves and digitization equipment. The reading area was actually very inviting when I visited, brightly lit by the sun with plenty of tables and a quiet atmosphere. It definitely made you want to whisper, again like a more stereotypical traditional library. On the second and third floor there are a few meeting areas, but most of the second floor is dominated by shelving and cabinets. The collection is home to nearly 25,000 books and other materials covering local history and genealogy primarily in Norfolk and Hampton Roads but also in some surrounding states such as North Carolina, West Virginia, and others (T. Valos, Personal communication, July 15, 2022). Books dominate the collection, with roughly 15,000 available and the rest in storage and they also house several historic artifacts and pictures, making the library seems half library, half museum (there is even and old card catalog index!).

One of the best features of the SMC is that a lot of the scanning and digitization equipment is actually kept out on the floor so staff can assist customers with big projects. While I was there, a staff members was doing their own digitization on the public computers where anyone could ask questions. While none of the items in the collection circulate, customers can use the tables and computers to review materials, make notes, and even digitize their own things. It functions much like an archive but with the additional access of different technology available to the public and genealogy resources. The space creates a sense of awe and reverence that a lot of people normally associate with libraries, but enough things are left out and open to the public that it makes you feel welcome to explore and ask questions.

People, Collections, and Services

The collections at the SMC varies greatly. While it is mostly books, the books range on a wide variety of topics with some amazingly rare gems. The oldest book in the collection dates back to 1585 and is written in Latin. One of the oldest local history books is a Pharmacy book from around 1605 and it is only one of three that can tell in the world. The librarians jokingly refer to the SMC as an unofficial “regional branch” of the Library of Virginia because the Library of Virginia works closely with them, referring patrons with questions about Norfolk and Hampton Roads. The Library of Virginia has a collection more focused on Richmond and Northern Virginia while the SMC has extensive local history about Hampton Roads that can’t be found anywhere else. In addition to the donations that come through, the SMC also has started to receive and preserve city documents from various departments. They essentially end up being a one stop shop for local history, genealogy, municipal records, and archival equipment access, much of which is accessible to the public in some way. They also serve as an affiliate of Family Search, they offer customers access to Ancestry and several other databases, and curate their own digital archive.

Primarily, the collections serves those doing genealogy and local history research. Their most popular request by far are from people looking for pictures or blueprints of historic neighborhoods and houses. Many people stop by trying to find out what their house looked like when it was first built since there are many older homes throughout Norfolk in particular. To date, the SMC staff are credited in over 150 books published by local authors about local history and genealogy and they attract a lot of researchers to their collection. They have also offered instructional programs for doing research in the past as well as handling reference questions, but they haven’t been able to do many program since the pandemic, mostly due to staffing. The collections, digitization, archiving, and customer service was originally handled by 16-17 staff when the SMC first moved to Slover in 2014 but now their staff has dwindled to 4 librarians and their hours have reduced as well. While they are slowly adding in more hours, they have not yet managed to secure more staff, but they still keep doing everything they can to keep the collection going and they still take reference requests as well. They have a good mix of materials that require staff assistance to access and materials that are out for the public to use.

Digital Access

The SMC website can be found at https://www.norfolkpubliclibrary.org/learning-research/local-history-genealogy/smc-collection. It is not an independent website but rather it exists as a page within the main Norfolk Public Library site that can be accessed either by hovering  over “Learning and Research” and utilizing the links under “Local History and Genealogy” or by hovering over “About NPL” and selecting “Hours and Locations.” Although hover menus can be a barrier to access, clicking on these menu options does load a page that has the links present as well which accommodates anyone with mobility issues that might affect their ability to use a hover menu. The website is simple and informative as far as what the SMC is and what hours and events it is currently running, but it does not link directly to any of the digital resources. Those have to be accessed via a separate link under the “Local History and Genealogy” page which was a little confusing. However, the website is mostly text without a lot of distracting ads, pictures, or icons. This actually make it easier for anyone using a screen read to navigate the website. The lack of engaging images does make the website feel a bit clinical, but it is not unwelcoming and it easy to navigate, I especially appreciated the use of a san-serif font and a simple blue and green color scheme as it made it easy to read. While no staff are listed on the website, just a general email, the SMC does offer a transparent upfront at their rules and regulations for reference request and printing services so you know exactly what to expect before your reach out to the, which is very helpful. As I talked to the staff, the overwhelming impression I got was that the SMC and the staff are there to not only assist the aide local historian but to encourage the curiosity and information seeking habits of anyone looking for local history or genealogy materials. The staff were as excited as I was about the possibilities for research and preservation and learning that goes along with collecting the materials and histories and you can tell they are devoted to their collections and the duty as librarians and archivists. In contrast to the archive at my own library which is still small and finding its feet, the SMC is established enough where access, along with preservation, seems to have become their primary goal.

Other Thoughts

I was fascinated by the Sargeant Memorial Collection and ended spending for longer than just two hours there. One of the things I thought was most noteworthy was their complete willingness to make preservation technology so readily available to the public. You could also tell the despite the lack of staff, the librarians were very dedicated to keeping the collection going and providing access to these historical records, which as we have learned is a key part of user services (Rubin & Rubin, 2020). Despite the small numbers, they were actively adding open hours back into their schedule and still actively pursuing digitization. The sheer size of the collection was impressive as well and some of the rare books and local histories they had were absolutely fascinating, but best of all was how accessible they really tried to make everything. While I was there I actually got a sneak peek at some photos that were in the process of being digitized showing the Lesner Bridge are from over 70 years ago. As a 5th generation local growing up just around the corner from the Lesner Bridge, it was amazing to see these upcoming additions and I probably could have sat in that collection for hours poring over the maps and books and photograph they have of the cities I know so well. The staff were also very friendly and though only a few customers stopped by, they went out of their way to greet and talk to everyone who came in, well beyond just a typical “hi, let me know if you need anything” greeting. The Sargeant Memorial Collection is definitely aiming to be a go-to location for anyone interested in Norfolk and Hampton Roads history and they did a great job of creating a welcoming space by sprinkling in some of that old traditional library charm mixed with more modern services.

References

Norfolk Public Library. (n.d.). Sargeant Memorial Collection. https://www.norfolkpubliclibrary.org/learning-research/local-history-genealogy

Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.