At Stevens, an essential resource for the students going about their academic endeavors is the Samuel C. Williams library, located in the center of the campus. Bearing materials ranging from books to tutors, the library is a one-stop shop for questions and inquiries regarding all disciplines. I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Linda Beninghove, the Library Director, and Romel Espinel, the Web Services and Teaching Librarian, about their opinions and experiences about research at the library and their opinions on the future of the library here at Stevens.
The first stop of research at the library is the extensive collection of books, journals, articles, and databases offered. In the traditional sense, students can rent and borrow books and access online copies to aid the educational curriculums here at Stevens. However, the unique part of the library is the databases Stevens has access to. Dr. Beninghove explained, “Students have access to hundreds of thousands of journals through databases that provide the latest research in all fields but especially in engineering, science, technology, and business. Students also have access to thousands of newspapers and magazines.” Additionally, students can request materials through the Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery. This system allows Stevens to exchange materials with many other university and institutional libraries to best support learning, not just at Stevens but in education in general.
However, the library is keeping up with society as technology advances. The library offers Stevens students a chat service to communicate with the librarians virtually, allows students to access materials virtually on and off campus, and has the equipment to rent— laptops with Solidworks and MatLab displays to use larger screens. However, if students like being more traditional, they may use some of the printers and scanners available.
With the technological advances the library is currently utilizing, I asked about the plans for the library as the decade progresses. Dr. Beninghove said, “Along with Stevens’ new 10-year strategic plan, the Library is continuously planning how to best support the academic programs, faculty, and students. We are looking at expanding our information and data resources inspired by our students and faculty and powered by the latest in information and instructional technology. Physically we hope to update the Library into an even more student-centered, modern, and creative study and research space where students can learn and explore in a comfortable study environment.”
The library is a keystone of the Stevens campus and community. Offering materials for research both in person and virtually, students can always go to the library to aid in their academics. The librarians welcome any questions and curiosity into the library system. For more information, please visit the library in person or visit the library’s website.
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