By Tim Mandell
Register News Writer
RICHMOND —
There is something for everybody inside the walls of the Eastern Kentucky University Libraries.
From popular fiction to films to local and statewide archives, students, community members and even visitors from out of town have the ability to take full advantage of many of the libraries resources.
While some resources are only available to students, there still are plenty of opportunities for everyone.
“We want people from the community to come in and use our services,” said Carrie Cooper, dean of libraries. “We’re really proud of all the changes we’ve made in the last year.”
One of the biggest changes is the Noel Studio for Academic Creativity.
Scheduled to open on Sept. 7, the studio is designed to help students with writing, research and oral speeches and presentations.
Student consultants will be paired with students, who will have the ability to use one of seven private practice rooms to prepare for speeches or presentations.
Each room is equipped with a camera that will allow students to record themselves for later viewing.
A large room, dubbed an invention space, has four moveable tables that can be connected together for larger groups, or separated for smaller groups.
Along one wall is a series of white boards for students to write on and on the wall adjacent to the boards, students have the ability to print out what they have written down.
There are several computers in the studio and students can check out laptops.
The studio will employ 20 to 25 students.
Also constructed along with the Noel Studio are two new classrooms, offices for library personnel, a staff kitchen, a conference room and a meeting room.
“The Noel Studio supports the highest practices of learning objectives at EKU, thinking creatively and critically and great communication skills,” Cooper said.
The Learning Resource Center allows teachers in training to collect items and gain knowledge about their chosen profession, through books, texts and other items necessary to teach children.
For community members, the libraries offer several opportunities to conduct research, including microfilm of newspapers, oral histories, genealogy, law books, government documents, collectible items such as old letters and a series of archives.
On Friday, Cathy and Tom Corbin of Morehead were using the archives to look up stories about Cathy’s father, who played basketball at Inez High School (now called Sheldon Clark) in the 1930s.
The couple, who are doing research for the Martin County Historical Society, said they were finding plenty of information.
“Many people that come in here like to do genealogy research or to research Madison County,” said Margaret Foote, team leader of archives.
Other areas of interest for community members include a free international film series, which begins at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 8 with the showing of the French film “Welcome.”
Following the film is a discussion in the library cafe.
The libraries stock a popular reading collection. Madison County residents are allowed to check out up to five books at one time.
With the opening of the Noel Studio, there will be a second entrance into the libraries, on University Drive across from the Ravine.
Seven metered spots also are being installed for visitors.
Eight non-password accessible computers are available for the public, as well as a collection of more than 600,000 books, Cooper said.
“It’s a wonderful resource for our community,” Cooper said of the libraries. “It’s a jewel for our university, but a gem in the jewel for the community.”
Tim Mandell can be reached at tmandell@richmondregister.com or 623-1669 ext. 6696.
