Library A Week

Applied Health Sciences Library

2010 no. 44

Library Profile

Library Name: Applied Health Sciences Library Location: 146 Main Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Type: Academic Mission: To support the academic mission of the College of Applied Health Sciences by providing appropriate library services and collections.  To serve the library and information needs of students, faculty and staff at the University of Illinois, and of the general public. Website: http://www.library.illinois.edu/ahs/ LTLS Directory Page: http://www.lincolntrail.info/zin.html Member Since: 1973 An interview with Mary Beth Allen.

What is unique about your library?

The grouping together of disciplines in the AHS Library is unique, but it is a direct reflection of the College of Applied Health Sciences and mirrors the college’s intellectual and academic focus on health and wellness of people and communities across the lifespan, with a cross-disciplinary emphasis on physical activity, health, aging, and disability.  We offer a new high-tech magnifier for people with low vision.  And we have a special collection called the Avery Brundage collection that contains many interesting books and pamphlets related to the Olympic Movement.

What are the primary goals and objectives of your library?

To offer a comprehensive academic collection to users, to provide a place for intellectual community-building among users, to provide timely and appropriate services that help users make the best use of their library time, whether it’s in the library or online.

What cooperative efforts are you currently doing?

We cooperate closely with the UIC Library of the Health Sciences branch here on the Urbana campus to develop services that promote health information.  There is also tremendous cooperative activity within the UIUC Library itself, to plan for staying in the game and for being effective, as the future unfolds.  And we have on-going cooperative efforts with the CIC.

Tell us a story about your library.

A former dean of the college, Dr. Seward Staley, (now deceased) spent so much time in the AHS Library that he kept a sweater and a shoe box here at all times.  The shoe box contained a magnifying glass, a pencil and eraser, and lots of index cards!

If money were no object, what services would you add?

I would definitely keep the AHS Library open longer hours; this is requested consistently by students.  I would also completely refurbish the user space, with comfortable, modern furnishings, lots more electrical outlets, more flexible work areas, group study rooms, a seminar room, and consultation space.  I would add more staff and I would offer access to more health information (journals and books) in digital form.  I’d like to make the AHS Library a place where students really want to spend time, with quality amenities that they expect.

What is popular in your library?

Our circulating book collection is popular; even with more and more ebooks and other digital resources available, our print circulation stats are still high.  Of course, everyone loves finding full text online, but print is still being used.  Our public workstations are also very popular, especially among students.  I think our people space is popular too, especially the mid-sized tables where students can spread out, with a little elbow room to work, and cluster together for group projects.

How does your library use online tools to connect to your user?

Our web site is intended to provide direct access to the tools and resources that our users need on a daily basis.  In addition, I worked with other librarians at UIUC to develop our Health Information Portal, a visible digital place where users interested in health information can get started and find appropriate resources and subject specialists to help further (see: www.library.illinois.edu/health).  I try to push out new information to selective email lists (students and faculty) so that users know what’s happening and know where they can find help.

Request a visit to your library If you would like to set up a special date for us to visit your library contact LTLS Consultant Michelle Ralston Library of the Week is published by Lincoln Trail Libraries System, 1704 W. Interstate Dr., Champaign, IL 61822 217-352-0047  -   ltls@lincolntrail.info Executive Director: Jan Ison, Editorial and Design Team: Michelle Ralston and David Lottes