2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
University Libraries
Administration
Dean: Annie Bélanger
Associate Dean of Collections, Digital Strategy, and Strategic Organizational Development: Open
Associate Dean of Curriculum, Research, and User Services: Jon Jeffryes
Website
Visit GVSU University Libraries online at gvsu.edu/library.
Mission
Grand Valley State University Libraries equip knowledge seekers to use information to shape their professions, enhance their communities, and create a more equitable society.
About University Libraries
University Libraries offers dynamic and diverse opportunities for research, collaboration, and individual study. From four unique locations and our robust online resources, 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), Digital Creator Lab, café, popular reading, learn labs, events and exhibits, IT Help Desk, Technology Showcase, Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement
- 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 Library
- Steelcase Library in the Richard M. DeVos Center, Building A: Specialized services and collections for professional programs, Knowledge Market (peer support), collaborative workspaces, reading room, popular reading, learn lab
- Curriculum Materials Collection in the Steelcase Library: K-12 educational resources, equipment, and services
Health Campus Library
- Frey Foundation Learning Commons in the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health: Specialized collections and services for nursing and health professional programs, includes study spaces, a reading room, and learn labs
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 400,000 physical resources, over 1,500,000 e-book titles, more than 100,000 e-journal titles, over 300,000 streaming media files, and more than 300 databases.
- Special Collections and University Archives: Seidman House on the Allendale Campus contains both the University Archives and Special Collections, including Grand Valley's history, rare books, and unique materials related to West Michigan history, veterans' history, Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, and Michigan artists and authors.
- Scholarly Communications and Open Education Resources: ScholarWorks 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 are textbooks and other educational materials that are open and free to use. Scholarworks currently hosts 30 open textbooks, 28 open journals, and more than 20,000 scholarly and creative works from Grand Valley students, faculty, and staff.
- 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. This specialized collection also includes puppets, an Ellison die-cut machine, and a laminator.
- 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.
- Government Documents: Grand Valley has been a part of the Federal Depository Library Program since 1963.
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' discovery system 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 a 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 online at the Knowledge Market website.
Digital Creator Lab
An expansion of the Knowledge Market, the Digital Creator Lab (DCL) serves as an academic support service and creator space that welcomes students of all majors and levels of experience. The DCL provides lendable hardware (e.g. DSLR cameras, microphones, lighting kits, and more) at the Mary Idema Pew Library and Steelcase Library. The Mary Idema Pew Library has study pods and a podcasting booth, computers with audio and video editing software, and digital skills consultants to assist students with their academic and creative projects. More information about equipment, software, and appointments can be found at the Digital Creator Lab website.
Distance and Hybrid Learning
University Libraries know 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 also work hard to meet the needs of all distance learners through remote services such as chat/text help, online consultations, online instructional videos, and off-campus book delivery.
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 or 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.
University Libraries have desktop and laptop computers, as well as printing, scanning, and copy stations.
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.
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 Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement, 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, located on the Atrium level of the Mary Idema Pew Library, 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.