What Keeps Evans Library Humming? A Look Behind the Scenes...

9/11/26 - When most people visit Evans Library, they probably notice our study spaces, books, computers, and helpful staff. What is not so obvious is the work that happens behind the scenes to keep library resources accessible and running smoothly.  Every day, our faculty and staff collaborate across university departments and within many systems to support student success and community connection.

Each book, database, online article, and lending technology takes a full team effort. Long before an item is available for check-out, librarians, library staff, library leadership, and many university teams have spent hours researching, purchasing, processing, cataloging, organizing, and even troubleshooting these resources.  From purchase to student check-out, every item available to students reflects a collaborative effort.

Summer might be quiet in the stacks, but it’s one of our busiest seasons for improvement projects. To ensure our learning environments are accessible and welcoming, the library team works in partnership with university departments to schedule regular maintenance and upgrades. This summer, we worked with the IT department to replace aging equipment across all 70 workstations in the third-floor Applied Computing Center, providing students with improved performance and a better user experience. We also teamed up with Marketing and the Copy Center to design and install several floor-to-ceiling murals. These installations add color and personality to library spaces. They also support student well-being by reducing stress, encouraging creativity, and offering a warm, welcoming environment that enhances the overall learning experience.

As foot traffic slows, planning for the coming academic year accelerates. Librarians leverage this time to plan course-integrated instruction, update research guides, schedule programs and events, and structure interactive workshops offered throughout the semester. Every effort is thoughtfully designed to help students succeed while preparing them to enter the workforce with confidence and a strong skill set. 

Evans Library is so much more than just a building filled with books! It’s the academic heart of our campus. Behind every database search, study session, and successful research project is a team dedicated to keeping things running smoothly. The next time you visit, say hello to the team that makes all of this possible!