For this library visit, I will be discussing the University of Oklahoma Library in Norman, OK. Information about the library appeared in an article “Building Morale in a Pandemic” in the magazine American Libraries.
I was drawn to this library because it was clear that the library’s chief technology officer (Ms. Twila Smith) cared about the library’s staff as people rather than merely as employees. She carried out an anonymous survey on how the library staff members were coping during the pandemic, and took to heart the following feedback: “I wish my supervisor would check in with me as a person instead of just on my projects.”
The Website for the University of Oklahoma Library is: https://libraries.ou.edu/frontpage
Resources available online
These include a wide variety of databases such as: Chinese Translated Texts for Historians, MLA International Bibliography, the Routledge Encyclopedia of Social & Cultural Anthropology. Social Work Abstracts for Human Relations, the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and MathSciNet for Mathematics.
There are numerous research guides with links to resources and ebooks on specific topics. Examples include research guides on Museum Studies with links to Journal of Conservation; Film & Media Studies with links to lists to databases for screenplays, scripts, reviews, and interviews; and Biology, with links to the Natural Science Collection database.
The OU Library has many special collections. These include: the Boorstin Collection on American History; the Chinese Literature translation archive of rare books, reference materials, translation rafts, correspondence, ephemera, and other historical materials; the History of Science Collections, the Western History Collections, and the William Bennett Bizzell Bible Collection; and the Harry W. Bass Business History Collection.
Services
Based on perusing the website, I learned that patrons can request assistance for finding and borrowing materials by calling the telephone number (405)-325-3341, by sending a text to the Bizzel Learning Lab, by completing a contact form that is emailed to a librarian mailbox, or by using the AI chat function on the website called “Bizzy.” There is no indication of curbside service.
The website showcases additional library features, such as the study rooms. Interestingly, the OU library system provides a space known as The Edge. It is similar to a Makerspace but with a focus on technology. It provides 3D printers and 3D scanners, Virtual Reality hardware access, and electronics kits for encouraging exploration in robotics.
Programming
According to the website, in-person programs have been substantially reduced in favor of virtual programs as a COVID-19 safety measure. The virtual events are primarily targeted at current University students, and are held through Zoom, or Slack.
Some of the upcoming virtual events include: the Archival Research Retreat — A session giving advice and tips on how to utilize the university library’s Western History Collection for archival research; and Repetitive Tasks in R: An active, participatory virtual workshop about coding automatic repetitive tasks.
Some of the in-person events include: the Level-Up League — meetings that aim to hone video game creation skills for game designers, storytellers, coders, and asset designers; and Survival Skills: Keep Your Research Safe with Backups — An informative presentation on how to securely back up data to keep it safe.
Media on website
All digital materials such as Ebooks and magazines are accessible through the OU libraries’ catalog. Students/faculty can log in to the library site to access the digital collection. Ebooks and other digital materials can be downloaded and viewed on desktop, smartphones, tablets.
There are no virtual tours or videos on the website.
Overall impressions of the OU libraries website
The library site is clear, to-the-point, functional and user-friendly. The opening page is welcoming, with essential information such as operating hours, a calendar of events in five day increments and quick links for accessing databases and resources, resource guides, branches, special collections and a login button. Across the top of the website’s home page, there are tabs for hours of operation, resources, library services, and events. Information is organized under tabs that make sense. There are no language variations. All information is presented in English. Concerning accessibility, the site is designed in a way that would facilitate accessibility for those with dyslexia or vision impairments, generally using simple fonts and legible colors throughout. Clearly marked sections are easy to differentiate from each other, making navigation easier. However, the disability resource section is not as simple to access. Located under the “Services” tab of the OU Libraries page, it takes transiting four additional sub-menus i.e. All services then to Get Help, then Services for Patrons with Disabilities, then to Overview, and then finally, the OU Disability Resource Center.
How much diversity is reflected in the OU Libraries website? While photos on the man site and sub pages mainly depict facilities without people, when people are depicted, racial and gender diversity are adequately represented with students that are visibly black, Asian or female. A Black female educator was selected as the Dean of Oklahoma University libraries and a news item about her background and the search process was featured on the website when she assumed her duties on May 24th, 2021.
The Surprising & the Noteworthy
The range of topics that the Oklahoma University specialized branch libraries covers was noteworthy and surprising. Surprising because I had understood that specialized libraries were rapidly becoming a thing of the past – – disappearing with their collections being absorbed into main library collections. OU retains stand-alone branch libraries dedicated to Architecture, Fine Arts, Geology, Law and Health Sciences.
Also noteworthy is a button on the main homepage labelled “virtual services.” that is dedicated to accessing tools for carrying out university studies remotely. This feature can serve to minimize frustrations for students and faculty by having at their fingertips, the information most germaine to functioning remotely. Topics covered and their corresponding links include: COVID-19 Resources, Research Help, Document Delivery, Databases, Research Guides, and support for CANVAS.
Information about OU Libraries noted in the Library Journal Article is not reflected on the website in a direct, easy-to-locate fashion. The article pertains to the wellness of library staff and how, based on feedback from anonymous surveys, library leadership incorporated staff support into their work planning retreats. OU has information on its website on issues that impact staff wellness, but it is not easy to find. For example, OU has a centralized COVID-19 site, called “OU Together” for students, faculty and staff . The link for this site is accessed from the main OU Libraries website under the” Virtual Services” and then buried under the misleading heading of “COVID-19 Researcher Resources. Staff support resources are further buried beneath a couple more ambiguously labelled tabs at the end of which there is information: for staff with concerns about family during COVID; resources for employees with children; and help for finding trusted caregivers.
Sources:
Farkas, M. (2021). Building Morale in a Pandemic: How to support library workers as whole people. American Libraries, 52(3/4), 48.
University of Oklahoma. (2020a). Employees. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://ou.edu/together/employees
University of Oklahoma. (2020b). OU Together. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://ou.edu/together