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Dean's Letter
From the Desk of Dean Schmand
I am excited to join the Middle Tennessee State University family! As the new dean of MTSU’s James E. Walker Library, I believe that libraries remain an integral and innovative part of a student’s educational experience. Libraries are constantly changing to respond to the needs of the campus community and adapting to how new information is created, published, and distributed. Additionally, libraries are providing greater access to creative and cutting-edge experiential learning opportunities. As a library we strive to provide the spaces, resources, and support that afford students the opportunities and skills to be academically successful.
Walker Library is well positioned to serve and advance the changing needs of the students and faculty at MTSU. As the institution increases the number of online courses and degree programs, users will find a diverse and rich online resource environment to support them. In addition, librarians are working to assist users in navigating the breadth of available resources through research consultations and instruction. The collections the library provides are fundamental to the access and academic success of MTSU students and to supporting the research and teaching of faculty. Complementing the collections, the library offers experiential learning services such as the Makerspace, which fosters creative thinking and design as students complete course assignments and conduct research in their fields of study.
The library is truly the heart of the University and offers a learning environment that is flexible and responsive to how students learn and how faculty teach today. Looking forward, I see the library building on the successful services it already has in place, such as the Pull and Hold program, open educational resources, and Digital Scholarship Initiatives, to name a few. Making connections across campus to advance the colleges’ and University’s strategic goals, along with finding innovative approaches that expand the library’s experiential learning programs and high-impact services, will continue to be priorities for me.
With a return to primarily in-person classes for the Fall 2021 semester, I look forward to seeing the library full of students pursuing their academic excellence.
