Monday, September 14, 2015

Nota Bene: Hofheimer Library

Recently, I shared with you a number of benefits of our relationship with the Virginia Tidewater Consortium (VTC). This week I had the opportunity to visit with Sue Erickson, our talented and visionary Director of the Hofheimer Library. We discussed the VTC collaborative and Sue also shared a wide variety of programs and services.
 
The Henry Clay Hofheimer II Library was constructed in 1969. The Library houses a variety of academic and information resources and services to support the College's liberal arts mission.  It also houses the College Archives, as well as a student art exhibit gallery. The well-equipped computer lab and a variety of study, instruction, and work spaces combine to make it a versatile setting where students are free to engage in scholarly learning and research, collaboration, conversation, reading or just relaxing.
 
In addition to the VTC, our library is also a member of VIVA, the statewide consortium for college and university libraries. Many of the VIVA institutions, including VWC, are participating in a Cooperative Borrowing Program (http://www.vivalib.org/borrowing/) so that our students and faculty can borrow directly from other institutions participating in the program. VIVA also organizes training for library staff. To keep administrative costs low, VIVA relies on committee service from the member institutions and I currently serve on the Steering Committee. I have also just begun a two-year term as Secretary for the Library Advisory Committee of SCHEV, a group closely related to the VIVA Steering Committee. 
 
In addition, the library directors of the VFIC institutions meet 2-3 times a year as the Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities Library Association (VICULA). Sue currently serve as the VICULA Information Officer.
 
As you can see, we benefit from a number of collaborative arrangements across the state that help us provide our faculty, students, and staff with the library resources they need to succeed. Beyond Virginia, our ILL service allows us to obtain materials from most US institutions and even some colleges and universities abroad.
 
The Hofheimer Library is a wonderful resource for our faculty and students.