Campus Connection

Murphy Library received a technological upgrade over the summer. Several remodeled spaces and new resources are available. The biggest project, the School of Education’s Collaborative Learning Studio, provides the “ability to train the teachers of tomorrow with the state-of-the-art tools of today,” says Provost Heidi Macpherson. The new studio allows students and faculty to connect with other students and teachers around the world through multiple video conferencing systems. It also features multiple SMART boards, which will allow students and staff to keep up with modern teaching systems and software applications. “Ultimately, the [School of Education] Collaborative Learning studio will provide the opportunity to bring educators together to transform the educational process, to innovate with technology and to engage students,” Macpherson explains. However, the Collaborative Learning studio is just one of the several noteworthy enhancements to the Murphy Library. The Murphy Learning Center has expanded in size and received up-to-date technology to accommodate more students who want to receive free, peer-led tutoring. The space will also be used by instructors who wish to hold study sessions or discussion groups outside of class and traditional office hours. Additionally, students can now get public speaking help at the new Public Speaking Center. The center will join the already established Writing Center, along with tutoring programs in mathematics, earth science, physics, chemistry, biology and microbiology. The additions are only the beginning to the renovations planned for Murphy Library. About 30 new computer workstations will be added to the second floor and basement of the building, in addition to new laptops and iPads available for student check out at the front desk. The Institute for Campus Excellence (ICE) is also planning a space on the first floor for faculty gatherings, seminars and workshops. Changes in Murphy extend beyond the building. New e-resources are available for students, including e-book collections from Springer and Harvard University Press, as well as an update to provide more historical content on the Web of Science database.