Thursday, July 3, 2014

Horace W. Sturgis Library of the Kennesaw State University in the Spotlight!

By Ariel  Turner

Located in the bustling North Metro Atlanta community of Kennesaw, Georgia, Kennesaw State University is the third-largest public institution in Georgia, with an enrollment approaching 25,000 students. Located on the heart of campus is the Horace W. Sturgis Library.

Built in 1981, the Horace W. Sturgis Library has witnessed the massive, rapid growth of the university over the years, from a student population of just over 3,500 to nearly 25,000. The library has undergone several renovations to keep up with student needs, including a renovation of the first floor into an Information Commons in 2009, a renovation of the ground floor into "Owlspace" in 2011, the renovation and creation of a Graduate Library on the third floor in 2012, the recently opened "Owlspace 2" on the ground floor and the impending complete renovation of the ground, first, and second floors.

Library users have access to fifteen study rooms of varying capacity, and can check out iPads, laptops and Macbooks for use in the building. The first floor, or Information Commons, provides an array of computers for student use, and features rotating student art exhibitions on the walls and in a central display case. The Owlspace on the ground floor offers a congenial, noise-friendly studying or meeting space and vending room, while the Graduate Library on the third floor provides silent study for users.

Horace W. Sturgis Library Owlspace
The Horace W. Sturgis Library also maintains several virtual spaces, including virtual reference, research guides, and the Digital Commons @ Kennesaw State University. The Digital Commons hosts scholarly and creative works produced by KSU students, faculty, and other affiliates, including the Georgia Library Association's Georgia Library Quarterly.
Under the leadership of Dean and Assistant Vice President for Library Services Dr. David Evans and Associate Dean and Director Dr. Linda Golian-Lui, the library has undergone several changes in the past few years, including the creation of both a Graduate Library and an off-site book repository, the introduction of 24/7 chat reference service, and a new Subject Liaison Program, pairing each librarian with an academic department.

The Horace W. Sturgis Library holds over 350,000 print and 160,000 electronic titles, with access to over 50,000 journals. The library subscribes to over 200 databases, with access to hundreds more through GALILEO. As a Federal Depository Library, the library is also proud to provide access to thousands of print, electronic and microfiche Government Documents.
The library currently employs 56 staff and faculty, consisting of 23 librarians (including administrators), 16 paraprofessionals, 14 student assistants, 2 graduate research assistants, and 1 administrative associate.

To learn more about the Horace W. Sturgis Library, please visit our website at http://www.kennesaw.edu/library.

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