Campus Connection

Murphy Library now home to student-center work, sets fund and celebration

The switch to more online publications doesn’t mean libraries are history. Actually, it’s the opposite. Academic libraries have transformed for several decades. While many collections are now digital, print remains, says UWL Murphy Library Director Catherine Lavallée-Welch. “The impetus, though, is to move from being a book warehouse to being a true and central academic hub on campus,” she explains. “Libraries are a central place on campus, serving all, where the atmosphere is conducive to learning and students are serious about working.” Libraries have transformed from silent spaces into environments where student-centered work of all types happens, says Lavallée-Welch. “You'll find groups working together in collaborative spaces as well as individuals working in quiet spaces." Lavallée-Welch says it’s now common for libraries to partner with other academic services like writing and tutoring centers, something that happens at Murphy. “We're now also offering services around research data, namely teaching students how to identify and research data sets and helping faculty with their data management needs,” she explains. Murphy continues to acquire university and local community archives. An ever-growing number of these materials are being digitized to be accessible online. Library instruction and information literacy are key. During the last academic year, Murphy librarians taught more than 300 sessions to more than 7,000 students. “That's on top of individual research assistance given to students and faculty one-on-one,” Lavallée-Welch notes. Libraries remain essential in an era of information overload. “Libraries, and librarians, evaluate, select, acquire, classify, give access to, help make sense of, manage and preserve information,” Lavallée-Welch explains. “Still today most of the scientific, authoritative information is held behind pay walls and academic libraries are the gateway.” UWL students have responded positively to the library transformation with more than 630,000 visits to Murphy Library last year. Lavallée-Welch says Murphy faces fee increases averaging 5-8 percent annually for electronic subscriptions. UW System has not increased acquisitions funding since 1999-2000, while the campus has provided minimal increases. Programming, professional development and facility improvements have been cut to maintain subscriptions. To help curb funding issues, the library has set up a new fund, the Murphy Library Florence Wing Restricted Fund, named for the prior and current buildings. The library also has an endowment fund. Both seek to raise money to improve and enhance collections, facilities improvement, programming and more. The library will launch The Murphy Million campaign during a gala Thursday, Oct. 27. There are several naming opportunities, ranging from "adopting" a book, journal or furniture, to specialized equipment for scanning and digitization, along with room naming. If you go — What: Murphy Library Gala Reception - hors d'oeuvres, beverages, music When: 5 p.m. social, 6 p.m. program, Thursday, Oct. 27 Where: Murphy Library Atrium, 1631 Pine St. Recognize and celebrate:

• honor the 2016 Eugene W. Murphy Library Special Recognition Award winner
• recognize the first Gilkey Scholarship recipient
• launch the new Murphy Million Fundraising Campaign

Admission: Free. RSVP to ssieber@uwlax.edu by Friday, Oct. 21.