Changes at Library for New Academic Year
The Cal State San Marcos Library has kicked off the 2017-18 academic year with a host of changes, including 24-hour access.
Thanks to full funding support from a successful ASI student-fee referendum last spring, the “24/5 Zone,” located on the second floor of Kellogg, is now open Sunday-Thursday between midnight and 6 a.m to students, faculty and staff with a valid CSUSM ID. It features renovated seating areas, seven group study rooms, two computer labs, printing, access to collections and course reserves, staff assistance and other Library services and resources.
The 24/5 Zone is one of many upgrades Library patrons may have already noticed. Here is a look at other notable changes:
No more fines and longer checkout times
The Library has eliminated most overdue fines on books and media checked out by students. Additionally, students can now borrow CSUSM books for 16 weeks and media materials for 30 days with one renewal each. Fees and fines still apply for lost items, course reserves and materials acquired through Circuit/Interlibrary Loan.
CSUSM employees may now borrow CSUSM books for 365 days and media materials for 30 days with one renewal each. For more information on replacement fees and loan periods, visit the Library’s borrowing policy page.
South Balcony open
The Library recently refurbished and opened its little-known South Balcony on the fifth floor, which can be accessed through the Barahona collection.
The balcony includes eight umbrella tables, 32 total seats and amazing views of CSUSM’s surrounding hills. It is open any time the Library is open (except during overnight hours).
Context: Library Series
“Revolutionary Grain: Celebrating the Spirit of the Black Panthers in Portraits and Stories,” the latest installment of the Context: Library Series, is on display in the Library. Context is a grant-funded, instructionally related Library series supporting student learning and research through art installations.
In conjunction with the exhibit, the Black Student Center is hosting a panel discussion on Sept. 20 with photographer Suzun Lucia Lamaina and several Black Panthers on the history and legacy of the movement. RSVP at bit.ly/RevGrain
Common Read
This year’s Common Read, “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, is a moving meditation on the author’s attempt to situate himself within our current fraught racial climate. Stop by the Circulation Desk to check out a copy of the book.
Also make sure to reserve your tickets to “Black Lives Matter: An Evening with Co-founder Alicia Garza,” an Arts & Lectures event at 6 p.m. Nov. 29.
Textbooks on Reserve
The Library continues to add more books to its Reserves collection. Students can check online to see if class textbooks and readings are available -- either online or in person behind the Circulation Desk.
Faculty are encouraged to place textbooks and other course support materials for their students to use on Reserve. New online forms for placing materials on reserve are available as follows:
Electronic Course Reserves Form
Forms can be submitted online and materials dropped off in the Library. Visit the reserves page on the Library website for more information.
Borrow books from any CSU library with CSU+
The Library has adopted a new “CSU First” motto. You now have the ability to search the library collections at every CSU campus through the new OneSearch discovery and CSU+ options on the Library’s website (log in to see all available request options).
The Library will notify you by email when items are ready for pickup, typically 2-5 business days after a request is placed.
Loans last between 30-60 days with no renewals, and any items overdue by 14 days will be billed $90.
Website redesign
The Library website was redesigned over the summer to improve the user experience and accessibility. The redesign was based on careful analysis of assessment data gathered from students, faculty and staff through surveys, focus groups and usability testing conducted during the fall 2016 semester.
Highlights include:
- New visual design to make the items people use the most easier to find
- A way to search the pages in the Library website
- A faculty-specific dashboard with links to FAQs
- A new mobile-friendly website