Library and Library Lawn

Description of Location/Something interesting

The library is located on campus at 10501 FGCU Blvd S, Fort Myers, FL 3396. It is directly across from the Cohen center. It is a four story high building with different amenities for students on each floor. The library has a starbucks at the front of it and inside there are things such as the ArtLab Gallery, Center for Academic Achievement, Lucas Center for Faculty Development, Veterans Space, Writing center, classrooms, and study rooms that can be reserved for groups of students who want a private space to study and work. It is a very important location for students who want a quiet place to study and need extra help with papers and research. Directly outside the library is the library patio with tables and chairs to enjoy the beautiful view of the lake. The library lawn is located right in front of the library and is surrounded by other building such as The Cohen Center and The Marketplace and is at the end of all of the other classroom buildings. It is also next to the lake. The library lawn is primarily used for events held by clubs, greek chapters, or boards such as the programming board. There are trees conveniently placed on the border of the library lawn great for hanging up a hammock and and relaxing. The library lawn is an important place for students to get the opportunity to get involved in fun events and social activities. It is also an open area for students to hang out and enjoy the fresh air.

Services provided/ Access hours

At the library you have access to computers, printers, group study rooms, books, and research guides. There is also a writing center for people who struggle with writing where they can get one on one help. You are allowed to rent out books for either a couple of hours or up to a week. The library is open for 24 hours Monday through Thursday. It closes at 8pm on Friday, opens at 8 am and closes at 6pm on Saturday, and opens at 11am and closes at 1am on Sunday. The reference desk where you can ask questions is open at 9am and closes at 8pm Monday through Thursday, opens at 9am and closes at 5pm on Friday, and opens at 1pm and closes at 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. The writing center is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm. The CAA( Center for Academic Achievement ) is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.

Directions relation to other places

Main Campus Entrance-

• With a car you would enter the university through the main entrance with the FGCU pillar, there are no parking lots near the library, so the nearest place to park would be garage 4, to get there you would turn left on to the fgcu loop and keep following the loop and garage 4 will be on your right before the light. After you park you would walk towards campus by following the paths, find an open area… that will be the library lawn, after that you just need to keep going forward.

Sovi Housing-

• With the shuttle, you would take the shuttle in front of the palmetto building in sovi, you would get off on the first stop (the arts building) and walk towards the back of the library from that, which is right in front of you hard to miss
• If you decide to walk, bike or skateboard, you would leave your building and pass the sovi bridge, cross the street and turn right into the parking lot, after that you will just follow the path and find the back of the library building.

Alico Arena-

• With a car you take the street towards northwest and take a left at the intersection towards main campus, and park at garage 4 that would be on your right. After you park you would walk towards campus by following the paths, find an open area… that will be the library lawn, after that you just need to keep going forward.

Important people

-As a first year student, trying to navigate the library could be very daunting. However, the staff in the library are very useful and are always willing to help in any way they can. The librarians are on each floor of the library and are their for those who need them. They are full of knowledge that students don’t necessarily know of, and are the most resourceful. For example, librarians are aware of library hours, how to reserve study rooms, where certains books are, and much more! As well as the librarians, the library also has staff that are in charge of specific functions inside. Below are some important staff names that could be useful for students here at Florida Gulf Coast University and how to reach them:

-Sheila Allen: Customer Service Assistant

Mail to:sallen@fgcu.edu

-Linda Colding: Head of Reference

Mail to:lcolding@fgcu.edu

-Kathleen Miller: Dean, Library Services

Mail to:kmiller@fgcu.edu

-Heather snapp: 1st Year Experience/ Outreach Lib

Mail to:hsnapp@fgcu.edu

Interviews

I was able to interview some of the staff in the library and ask a few common questions. Below are the questions and each staff members responses.

QUESTIONS:

1. How many books are students able to check out at one time?
2. How do you reserve a study room?
3. What are the library hours?
4. Why is the library an essential place to visit as a college freshman?
5. What is the most useful part of the library?

-Kathleen Miller:

1. There is no limit for FGCU students.

2. Study rooms are reserved on the library website here: http://library.fgcu.edu/dibs

3. The Library opens at 7am Monday and stays open through Friday at 8pm. Saturday hours: 8am-9pm; Sunday hours: 11am-1am

4. Because 1) the library has the information resources first year students need to complete assignments, 2) the librarians have the expertise to help students find and use the best resources, and 3) the spaces and technology students need for group projects are in the Library. Bonus: Starbucks is here, too!

5. The librarians are the most useful because they want to help students succeed and they have the tools, expertise, and talent to make it happen.

-Sheila Allen:

1. As many as you can carry!
2. We use a system called D!bs! You can access it on our website or we have a desktop at or Circulation desk.
3. Monday: 7am- Friday 8pm (24-4)

Saturday: 8am-6pm

Sunday: 11am-1am

4. We have so many resources to help make your first year at FGCU a huge success. It is a meeting place, and our librarians love to help in any way they can.

5. The librarians and other staff, plus all the cool places that have been created, and the technology!

-Heather Snapp:

1. You can check out as many as you can carry. No limit.
2. Go to the blue button on our website (library.fgcu.edu) that says Group Study Rooms. It will bring you here: http://library.fgcu.edu/dibs Choose which time and room you’d like and then fill out the reservation. You must use an FGCU email account for it to work.
3. These are always right on our home page. We open on Mondays at 7:00am and are open 24 hours until Friday at 8:00pm. Saturdays 8am-6pm and Sundays 11am-1am.
4. There are so many resources and services that we offer. We have a physical book collection of about 250,000 items in addition to millions of online materials. We offer study rooms; computers/printers; individual and group study space around the library; course reserve textbooks, loanable technology such as calculators, headphones, laptop and phone chargers, and a GoPro camera. We even have skeletons that can be checked out in addition to dry erase markers for our white boards. We have drop-in research help at our Reference Desk. It is important for freshmen to start using the Library so they can be comfortable with it early on and realize all the potential it has to offer them.
5. In addition to our many resources that can be checked out, I think the librarians are the most valuable part of our library. Students can drop in at the Reference desk when they need help locating sources for their research papers and projects. We also offer a consultation service if students would like to have a longer, more in-depth session with a subject specialist. And, students can chat, text, call or email the librarians as well.

Citations:

“Explore Library Spaces.” FGCU Library, library.fgcu.edu/admin/spaces.html.

“About Us.” FGCU Library, library.fgcu.edu/admin/about.html.