2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
University Libraries
Administration
Dean: Annie Bélanger
Associate Dean of Curation, Publishing, and Preservation Services: Jeffrey Daniels
Associate Dean of Curriculum, Research, and User Services: Sarah Beaubien
Website
Mission
Grand Valley State University Libraries purposefully collect, teach, display, discover, disseminate, and preserve information, in all its forms, to support the university curriculum and fuel the intellectual life of the university. We connect scholars and learners to resources. We create spaces and programs that inspire the university community and promote inquiry as an essential life skill.
About University Libraries
University Libraries offers dynamic and diverse opportunities for research, collaboration, and individual study. From five unique locations, the libraries serve the entire Grand Valley community. Each library is uniquely tailored to its location and the programs it serves, with daily deliveries of physical materials between all university library locations.
University Libraries are committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We strive to provide an environment in which all members of the campus community feel welcome, safe, supported, respected, and valued. All library staff and faculty are active in the ongoing work of identifying and eliminating barriers to ensure that all members of the library community are able to fully participate in library spaces and services. We work to ensure that our tools, devices, services, and environments are available and usable by as many people as possible.
Allendale Campus Libraries
- Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons: Collections, library services, group and individual study spaces, Knowledge Market (peer support), café, popular reading, learn labs, events and exhibits, IT Help Desk, Technology Showcase, Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship
- Seidman House: Special Collections and University Archives contain rare books, manuscripts, photographs, archives; quiet study spaces with natural light and scenic views of the ravines
Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus Libraries
- Steelcase Library in the Richard M. DeVos Center, Building A: Specialized services and collections for professional programs, Knowledge Market (peer support), collaborative work spaces, reading room, popular reading, learn lab
- Curriculum Materials Library in the Richard M. DeVos Center, Building A: K-12 educational resources, equipment, and services
Health Campus Library
- Frey Foundation Learning Center in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences: Specialized collections and services for nursing and health professional programs; study spaces
Library Collections
University Libraries house a rich and robust collection of resources in multiple formats that support the research and scholarship activities of students, faculty, and staff, including more than 527,000 print titles, 944,000 e-book titles, 92,000 e-Journal titles, and 300 databases. www.gvsu.edu/library/find-materials-2.htm
- Curriculum Materials: The Curriculum Materials Library at the Steelcase Library in the DeVos Center holds a diverse collection of high-quality instructional materials for preschool through grade 12. There is also a collection of K-12 curriculum materials housed in the Mary Idema Pew Library, fourth floor, on the Allendale Campus.
- Digital Collections: University Libraries' Digital Collections contain a selection of photographs, correspondence, diaries, interviews, and publications from the holdings of the libraries' Special Collections and University Archives and other university entities. This expanding resource makes unique or rare materials from Grand Valley collections available electronically to students, faculty members, administrators, researchers, and the general public. www.gvsu.edu/library/digitalcollections
- Government Documents: Grand Valley has been a part of the Federal Depository Library Program since 1963 and currently receives approximately 37 percent of the documents distributed by the program.
- Scholarly Communications and Open Education Resources: ScholarWorks@GVSU is an open-access repository maintained by Grand Valley libraries that showcases and maintains works by Grand Valley faculty and student researchers. Open Educational Resources (OER) are textbooks and other educational materials that are open and free to use. Scholarworks currently hosts 18 open textbooks and 24 open journals.
- Special Collections and University Archives: Seidman House on the Allendale Campus contains both the University Archives and Special Collections, including rare books, Michigan novels, the Harvey Lemmen Collection on Lincoln and the Civil War, the Johnson Center Philanthropy Archives, and the papers of acclaimed Michigan author Jim Harrison, among others.
Document Delivery
University Libraries' Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan service can locate resources that are within and outside of the University Libraries' collections. Electronic copies of articles and book chapters can be requested via the libraries' catalog and delivered to email within a few days. Books and other items can be borrowed from other libraries, with delivery usually within a week to selected library location or home address.
Knowledge Market
The Knowledge Market has highly trained student employee/peer consultants who can help students improve their skills. Consultants work one-on-one with individual students or small student groups to develop research strategies, analyze data, improve writing, or polish presentations. Knowledge Market services are available at the Mary Idema Pew Library and the Steelcase Library.
Distance and Hybrid Learning
University Libraries knows that distance education students have different needs than on-campus students. Library services at Grand Valley are available to the distance education community; the libraries work hard to meet the needs of all distance learners.
Liaison Librarians
Liaison librarians provide specialized instruction and consultations for all Grand Valley majors and programs. Students can schedule an appointment to meet with a liaison librarian to learn more about how to use the libraries and for specific research/assignment-related assistance. Liaison librarians work closely with faculty throughout the university to develop and provide course-specific information literacy instruction, both in-person and online.
In addition to the collections and library catalog, University Libraries has desktop and laptop computers; printing, scanning and copy stations; and poster and color printing.
Library users can request materials online via the libraries' website; connect with library staff via chat, email, text, or phone; or visit in person at the service desk. Students can make an appointment with a liaison librarian for research assistance.
Group study, collaborative group work areas, mobile and wall whiteboards, quiet study areas, reading rooms, desk carrels, and soft seating are available in a variety of options across locations. Check with each library location for specific availability.
The IT HelpDesk is located in the Mary Idema Pew Library, Atrium Level. Students can receive hardware and software troubleshooting services.
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, located in room 230 of the Mary Idema Pew Library, provides support for undergraduates to pursue the research and creative practice in their discipline. Curious students are connected with ways to discover, research, and explore. Students work with faculty on student- or faculty-initiated research.
The Technology Showcase provides faculty, staff, and students with an interactive and engaging environment to discover, learn, and share how innovative, emerging technologies can enhance teaching and improve student learning at Grand Valley. The showcase also offers 3-D printing. Located on the Atrium Level of the Mary Idema Pew Library.