Kevin Pischke, Library Director & Director of the Learning Commons
Like many third places, academic libraries fill a very important role. Higher education has changed as technology disrupts traditional models of learning, yet academic libraries are still fulfilling their central purpose—providing access to resources, user services and spaces. William Jessup University’s Paul Nystrom Library is looking at the future and responding today, thanks in large part to its adoption of new technologies and a third place mentality. In the minds of many, libraries are simply grocery stores for books. Patrons walk in, grab something from the shelves and check it out at the counter. Jessup’s Library, however, is committed to being more than a place of transactions—it wants to be a place of collaboration, creativity and transformation.
Te Library strives to provide all the academic resources the Jessup community needs to thrive. When Jessup moved to Rocklin, the library collection fit in boxes and moving trucks. It was a respectable 60,000 item collection for a Bible college. However, San Jose Christian College didn’t just change locations and names. It also expanded the curriculum and overnight the collection was no longer adequate to meet the rapidly-changing needs of a multi-site liberal arts university. In response, the Library slowed print collection growth while dramatically increasing its electronic collection which is now over 95% digital with nearly 500,000 items. With this shift from physical to digital resources, the Library can focus space use for students to meet, socialize, study, create and collaborate.
A commitment to being a third place motivated the Library to improve student academic services. Over the past two years, it collaboratively partnered with other academic support services—Success Center, Tutoring, Disability Services, Writing Center and Career and Internship Services—to form a Learning Commons. Tese services provide both formal learning, such as workshops, tutoring and mentoring programs and informal learning, like reference support and help with video editing. By combining these services under a single philosophy and in a highly visible location, students are able to enhance their learning outside the classroom.
Te Library has always been a place where students could study. In recent years, the Library has become more intentional about fostering community through environment and events. A variety of seating options ranging from isolated study carrels, to group study rooms, to giant bean bag chairs ensure all students can build relationships while being productive. Partnerships with academic departments on campus allow the Library to become a venue for showcasing literature, museum exhibits and warm works of art. Edu-tainment activities such as Library Disc Golf, Twitter Trivia and Study Break Scrabble ensure students feel welcome and keeps the mood light. Te recent remodel of the Darling Media Lab provides students with cutting-edge collaborative technology and furniture specifically designed to foster creativity, continuing the Library’s ongoing commitment to a third place philosophy.
(above center) Kevin Pischke and Dr. Jackson cutting the ribbon on the newest third space addition, the Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation Media Lab.
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