4 Reasons Why the Library Should Affect Your College Choice
The library is a home away from home for a lot of students, so get to know what it can do for you.
If you talk to a college admissions officer or a high school guidance counselor about things to do when you visit a college campus, one of the first things they say is to visit the libraries on campus. Bring a book or some schoolwork, sit down, and soak up the environment.
Can you see yourself there for four years?
"The library is the backbone of a college or university's academic environment," says Kelly Alice Robinson, career information services manager at the Career Center Library at Boston College.
Not only is the actual physical library one of the main spots where college students go to get work done (and socialize), it's also a useful resource of a wide range of information and services, she says. And that doesn't even scratch the surface of the digital capabilities that many library systems possess. U.S. Newsspoke a handful of experienced librarians from colleges to find out what prospective students—and their parents—should look for when they check out a prospective school's library.
1. What is the staff like? Chat with a reference desk staffer or two. How helpful are they? What kinds of information can they provide? Do they seem like they are prepared and willing to help students? These are important questions.
"More and more colleges libraries have shifted to become service-oriented," says Cindy Fisher, a first-year experience librarian at the University of Texas—Austin who helps new students transition into college. "Think of some things you might need as a student and ask the librarian at the reference desk
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