The Sinclair library is not just filled with books and the occasional high-priced, coffee-filled Starbucks drink, but it’s also overloaded with resources that are accessible in-person and electronically, according to Andrew Walsh, a Sinclair librarian.
Walsh has been a librarian at Sinclair for over two years and said students are familiar with how a public library functions; such as, housing books and printed periodicals, along with study space. However, he thinks students are unaware of just how much the Sinclair library has to offer.
“Any academic library would be that it’s going to have a collection geared toward the academic program—it’s really to support what the different courses are that students are going to need to learn,” Walsh said. “Typically, its supplemental resources for those classes, things that could be used in research projects, where as a public library anything of interest that people want. That’s kind of a basic distinction.”
Aside from the obvious resource of providing books that will help students drench themselves in even more knowledge from every course they are taking, the library also purchases a couple hundred different databases that are easily accessible for students on campus and off of campus, according to Walsh.
“That includes over millions of different journal items, which could be magazines, newspaper clippings, or research articles,” Walsh said. “We have more e-books accessible online than print books on the shelf—those are scholarly books or popular books.”
He said he finds a lot of students who look for particular books on a subject they are studying, but the book might not give them the information they needed, so he said he would usually steer them in the “database direction.” He said this speaks to the importance of seeking help.
If a student is looking for a particular book, but the library doesn’t house it, the next step is to visit ohiolink.com, according to Walsh.
“It’s a group of 121 colleges and libraries in the state—you can basically search that entire collection. There is about a million total items; our print collection is maybe 100,000, so there is huge amount of material there,” Walsh said.
However, if you’re out of luck and can’t find a book that you’re looking for on Ohiolink, the librarians are willing to purchase a book or collection. Each librarian is assigned to an academic division, who purchases the books, along with being of the instruction side, such as online tutorials, according to Walsh.
“It’s very much driven by demand. If students find something that is very useful, we could consider purchasing that,” Walsh said. “We work with faculty for that too.”
If students are looking for textbooks to rent simply to just save money instead of buying them at the bookstore, Walsh said they have a system called course reserve. Students have the opportunity to checkout textbooks for three hours just for library use only. According to Walsh, this policy is to make is as widely available to students as much as they can.
“Students will come in and just do a reading down here or make copies or take a picture with their phone,” Walsh said.
Aside from just textbooks, Walsh said the Sinclair library has an interesting selection of electronic subscriptions.
“We have streaming film databases so we have one that is primarily education films such as documentaries and then another one we just started a subscription to and it’s for popular films for students to view through any web browser,” Walsh said.
Every electronic database that the library has is handpicked for academic research and information. Walsh said it saves a lot of time because students can trust what is in the collections.
When students are looking for quick answers, Walsh suggests students should turn to LibSearch, on the library’s homepage. It searches across all of the database subscriptions, while giving students a “google-like experience,” according to Walsh. He said many options will be similar to a Wikipedia article, but it will have a known author and it’s been fact-checked.
Walsh emphasized that not only are the textbooks and electronic databases effective resources, but so are the librarians.
“We can help not only show [students] what we have here in the library, but we can sift through information online and help show them what they should trust,” Walsh said. “We can steer them towards higher quality information.”
The library houses desktops and laptops for students to use for homework and class studies. Walsh said it’s simple to login with your username and password, and then you’ll be given a number for a computer station. There is also IT staff walking around to answer any technical questions.
“What’s pretty cool about the space here is that we are all pretty much working together, so we all share the main service desk. The IT staff is to help with anything that is related to technology down here, such as issues logging into a computer or issues with the Wi-Fi or printing or software programs,” said walsh.
Walsh stated that if there is an issue with the noise, students have the option to checkout one of the six glass study rooms, which is first come, first serve for two hours at a time. Students can also enjoy the “quiet reading room,” which is to the right of Starbucks.
“That’s a good spot for a nap, which a lot of students take advantage of or if you need a place to read or do work,” Walsh said.
On the other side of Starbucks, Walsh said there are always current issues of newspapers and magazines, which give students the opportunity to get caught up on current trends and news.
Walsh stated the Sinclair library is much different than a research university because they are considered a depository for historical preservation. Sinclair, on the other hand, is focused on being current because of the size of the school. However, the electronic databases have a longer archive for students to use for research.
“Our mission is what is our curriculum require our students to learn and how can we meet their needs,” Walsh said.
Gabrielle Sharp
Executive Editor