Introduction
Work, classes, and family commitments have made carving out time to visit libraries in person challenging this summer. While I managed to visit a school and public library in person for this assignment my special/archives library visit was entirely virtual. For my academic library I decided to blend the two. I have visited the John Deaver Drinko Library, in fact I was one of the first patrons to walk through its doors when it opened in October of 1998 (Marshall, 2022c). I was able to use its resources and enjoy the space for my final year as an Undergraduate at Marshall University. It has been more than two decades since I left and I was interested to see how it had changed since my time there.
Digital Access
I was pleased to find that the website is easy to navigate. It is not particularly interesting or engaging but the search tools are well labeled and intuitively located. If you have student ID and password you can easily search for books and media, journals, and article databases. There are search engines for specific disciplines, research guides, library material searches, interlibrary loan services, and textbook loan services. You can also request assistance with research from a librarian and tutoring from the Writing Center. All faculty and staff members are listed by name under the Locations and Departments tab. There you will find their position, email address, and phone number. Students can interact with librarians through a chat feature on the website, by clicking the “Ask a Librarian” tab, or email (Marshall, 2022c).
There are many online services available to students including various research tools, DocDel (a service to request physical and online materials and an option to pick up materials after hours (students submit an online reservation request and the materials are placed into lockers for the students to pick up). I did not see any virtual programming or services beyond the limited hours that the librarian chat is available. I found no information on accessibility for those who are visually impaired, or those with a different reading or language ability.
The Space and Physical Access
The Drinko is located at 1 John Marshall Drive in in Huntington, West Virginia. It is situated next to Old Main, the oldest building on Marshall University’s campus (Marshall, 2022a). I remember the juxtaposition of the oldest building and the newest sitting side by side and appreciating the beauty of both. It is a large building with a 24-Hour Reading Room, computer stations, study rooms, conference rooms, and an auditorium. It also houses the offices of the University Libraries, Technology, Instructional Technology, Universal Computing Services, and Telecommunications (Marshall, 2022c).
I remember the Drinko as being a clean, bright, modern space. Clicking through the website it seems that it still is. The Drinko’s glass front faces the campus quad and a statue of the university’s namesake Chief Justice John Marshall (Marshall, 2022b). Students can stroll across the manicured lawns and sit on benches outside. There are bike racks and nearby street parking. The library sits at the edge of campus and backs to Hal Greer Boulevard, one of the main thoroughfares through Huntington.
There is very little information about diversity or inclusion on the website. This is the sum of it, “All floors and stack areas of the Drinko Library are accessible to persons in wheelchairs” (Marshall University, 2022c). I had to search to find that. It was tucked away under the Services tab. The statement goes on to explain that Marshall’s older library the Morrow is wheelchair accessible, unless you want to access the stacks. If you need anything from the stacks you’ll have to request assistance from a librarian.
Services and Intellectual Access
I saw evidence of clear signage throughout the library. I was disappointed that I couldn’t find any information on the glass pieces displayed in the screenshot above. I had to do an online search to discover that the pieces were from a local glass factory that closed in 2002 (Alexandersen, 2010). But I was excited to see that the Drinko had a book display celebrating intellectual freedom (Marshall, 2022e). They also have an online student art exhibit featuring paintings, mixed media, wood work, quilts, and framed poetry that quite frankly made me a touch homesick (Drinko Library, 2022). Other ongoing programs include summer research assistance and a weekly discussion panel on Russia’s War in Ukraine (Marshall, 2022f). Access to the electronic databases require student ID.
People (Patrons and Staff)
My visit was virtual so I was unable to witness any interactions between patrons and staff. Access to the library is limited to students, faculty, and Marshall University staff. You must swipe your ID card to enter. I also could not gauge the level of diversity of the staff or the students. I did not find any reference to available translation services, however. That doesn’t mean they don’t have them. Perhaps they simply don’t mention them. All of the staff are listed online but it isn’t always clear to see which of three Marshall University Libraries they service.
Collections
The Drinko houses 25% of Marshall University’s collections. Materials include books, bound periodicals, and an a wide variety of unspecified media. Government documents, historical works, and rare books are kept across campus at the James E. Morrow Library (Marshall, 2022d).
Other/Conclusion
The Drinko is an important component of Marshall University. It serves the students, faculty, and staff and provides much needed academic and research support. With its Writing Center, work stations, online database access, study rooms, and 24-Hour Reading Room it is very much the modern academic library and Information Center that Rubin and Rubin outlined (2020, p 171).
I felt nonstrategic as I explored. It seems like there is a great deal of information missing from the website and I would love the opportunity to visit again in person. I was disappointed, but not surprised by the lack of focus or attention on inclusivity. West Virginia is not a very ethnically diverse but Huntington is one of the major cities and Marshall University is a huge part of that community. I’d hoped that in the two decades since I was a student that there would be more awareness. Perhaps I’ll check back again in another twenty years and be pleasantly surprised.
Resources
Alexanderson, C. (2010, May 30). Touma glass exhibit opens at Marshall. The Herald-Dispatch. https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/recent_news/touma-glass-exhibit-opens-at-marshall/article_9662d68e-cbbc-5620-a8e7-47a62494610e.html
Burbery, P. (2022). Signs and Writing Center desk [Photograph]. Google Maps. Retrieved July 17, 2022 from https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x8846083316b9e757%3A0x52a27b105caaf85c!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMws6Pt5LBO2TMJQQeDTY3olABfCJCHQNCUY7wd%3Dw240-h320-k-no!5smarshall%20university%20drinko%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipPPRpLB4GsppbXyIdL6rj775hNECgws2Le-03dh&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKusTgsoD5AhVhD1kFHQ0bDvgQoip6BAhQEAM
Drinko Library (2022). Creation in confinement: Pandemic artworks, crafts, and poetry [Exhibit]. Huntington, West Virginia. https://libguides.marshall.edu/2022artexhibit
Marshall University (2022a). History and traditions: Old Main. ht:tps://www.marshall.edu/history-and-traditions/sample-page/historic-buildings-and-monuments/old-main/
Marshall University (2022b). History and traditions: Our namesake. https://www.marshall.edu/history-and-traditions/sample-page/our-namesake/
Marshall University (2022c). Marshall libraries: Drinko library. https://www.marshall.edu/library/libraries/drinkolibrary/
Marshall University (2022d). Marshall libraries: Morrow library stacks. https://www.marshall.edu/library/libraries/morrowstacks/
Marshall University (2022e). Marshall University libraries: Current events. https://libguides.marshall.edu/libraryevents/current
Marshall University (2022f). Marshall University libraries: MUkraine. https://libguides.marshall.edu/MUkraine
Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.
Short, J. (2017). Exterior of Drinko library [Photograph]. Google Maps. Retrieved July 17, 2022 from https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x8846083316b9e757%3A0x52a27b105caaf85c!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMws6Pt5LBO2TMJQQeDTY3olABfCJCHQNCUY7wd%3Dw240-h320-k-no!5smarshall%20university%20drinko%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipMYYmQDzcEppIpsrYbCzz4ezSZD-wGYlckPgqVv&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKusTgsoD5AhVhD1kFHQ0bDvgQoip6BAhQEAM
Some of the ideas that caught my attention were DocDel, and the 24 hour library. Did you use either of these services when you were at Marshall? They seem to be great additional services for college students!
I was also interested that they offered tutoring from their writing center. I would love to have someone proofread my work before submitting.
All of these services focus on a college setting, you can see that they are very student/learner/patron based.
Hi! They did not! I remember the library being open late but not 24 hours.
The glass pieces in your screen shot were very pretty- like you, I would have been nice if there had been some information about them on the website. I love that it is open 24 hours a day. The academic library I visited had “summer hours”- the hours were a little better than a public library, but not by much. It is always fun to go back to a place after a time and see it through a different set of eyes. Thanks for sharing.
I, too, chose to visit my alma mater and was surprised at what had changed. I like that they have an online student art exhibit. That has got to be a neat feature for parents of art students who may not be able to travel to see their children’s art exhibits in person. I think it also shows a commitment to the population that they serve which is the students.
I like the glass windows on the outside of the building. I use to think that most libraries look the same, as that’s what I am familiar with seeing around town. However, through this project, I am finding that there can be so much variety to the look of libraries. Some remind me of works of art. My academic library was open 24 hours and I spent a lot of time there. I now realize that it was very student/faculty based. I loved it! I wish I had thought to look at it again for this assignment.
I loved looking at the art displays! It is definitely frustrating to try to get a lot of information off of a library website, but you did a good job! I think it’s awesome that you chose your alma mater’s library. What a cool idea to see how its progressed, especially since you were there at the very beginning! I am glad that it’s a 24 hour library. My undergrad library was only open 24 hours during finals week. I’m sure that’s really helpful to students.