By Christian Toews
Contributing writer
The Henry G. Bennett Memorial Library has recently made changes. Including a new Blackboard course, a newly labeled study floor and digitizing some important documents.
The Digital Information Literacy Librarian Kathryn Plunkett said that new Blackboard class for the library is a very interactive way to find out about the library and help students with research.
There are many interactive tools on the page including a discussion board, which allows students to post comments, suggestions or even questions.
This course is located on every student’s Blackboard page and is provided free of charge. Plunkett encourages students to explore the course and its features.
Floor 2A of the library is now a group study floor. Plunkett said that she has noticed more students using the group study floor since it opened.
Plunkett said that the library has also made white boards available on the study floor. Students can use these by checking out a marker from the circulation desk.
With the addition of this study floor, there are now two group study floors in the library, on floors 2A and 3. The second floor of the library is a quiet study floor.
Plunkett said the idea to make floor 2A a group study floor was suggested by a student, and the library changed it this semester. Plunkett talked about the use of the “tell us what you think” feature on the home page of the library.
This allows students to give ideas and suggestions to improve the library and its services. Plunkett encourages students to use this tool saying, “It makes us better librarians.” She then said, “The students have great suggestions.”
Plunkett also said that The Southeastern newspapers have been digitized to make searching them more convenient. They can be found in the “electronic resources” section of the library web page.
Plunkett said that the library is working to digitize more resources such as the Southeastern yearbook that will be available as soon as the library has the money and resources to do so.
Plunkett said that these changes are part of the constant improvement of the library and that the library and its employees “love to do anything to improve our services.”
“The public is welcome but our mission is the students,” Plunkett said. She encourages students to try these new features and if there are questions, Plunkett said to simply ask for help.
For more information about the Southeastern library and these changes visit http://www.se.edu/lib/.