DePaul’s Library has never offered a richer collection of resources, nor have our resources ever been easier to access. In response to our patrons’ needs and in support of DePaul’s curriculum, we have built extensive digital collections. Databases and e-journals are our most highly used resources; e-books are becoming more prevalent. We are digitizing resources for course use and building unique digital collections at an unprecedented rate. At the same time, our print book collections and primary resources are still being used.
While the shape of our collections has changed substantially, the available space in the John T. Richardson Library has not. For our collections to be actively used, they need to be accessible. The renovation will allow us to build an Information Commons and Research Center, implement current technology so patrons can access our digital collections, and create a user-friendly environment that encourages use of our collections in all formats.
The renovation will also bring the physical collections up to date. Currently, the second floor of the Library is dedicated to storing print journals that are largely unused. Most of the periodicals will be moved to an offsite storage facility in Chicago, from which they can be retrieved within one day or scanned and sent directly to your desktop. Current issues of journals and a small backfile will be kept in our onsite collections and we will work through our subject specialists and library liaisons to retain periodicals used in classes. Our third and fourth floor book collections will remain largely unchanged, but will be shifted to allow space for additional group study rooms.
Our library collections are built collaboratively; they are the result of faculty and student input, strong funding from the Provost, and the hard work of our subject specialists. The John T. Richardson Library renovation will align our collections with student and faculty usage patterns and integrate resources more closely with library services. It is part of our ongoing collaboration.