McNeese State University

McNeese provides facilities, services, and learning/information resources appropriate to support its mission through the Frazar Memorial Library. The Library recognizes its important role of acting as the principal information and learning resource, supporting the curriculum and the teaching, research, and service goals of the University. Library collections and other learning/information resources adequately support the degrees offered at the institution.

When the University resumed quasi-normal operations in October in the wake of the hurricane, the Library was one of several campus locations which remained closed. Water and mold damage to the Library structure and collections was extensive. Library staff, faculty, and students were barred from entry until the building could be repaired and air quality inspectors and risk management assessment teams approved the building for use.

Temporary Library headquarters were set-up in Kaufman Hall, Rooms 333 and 334. Before the Library re-opened, library personnel met in order to analyze the problems associated with no access to the library building and its contents and to create solutions for this unique obstacle. The Library faculty/staff, in conjunction with University officials and other faculty, developed a strategy to address operational issues and, primarily, to provide access to information and information services for our students. By creative improvising, the library supported the University’s efforts and helped minimize student frustration levels.

The storm created new building problems and exacerbated existing ones. When the building was opened four months after the storm, the staff was faced with evaluation and disposal of damaged government documents. Before the completion of this task, a summer mold outbreak in the book collection required additional staff time. The building was completely without elevator service for several months after the building opened. Unreliable elevator service and sporadic leaks continue to limit accessibility to portions of the Library’s collections.

In spite of all the difficulties, the library faculty/staff has continued working to provide quality service to library users. As part of a unified effort, librarians are developing projects that are intended to put students more in touch with library resources and integrate seamlessly with outside online searching.

In order to fulfill its mission, the Library has identified the following goals:

The Library's Administration Department oversees all aspects of the operation of the Library. The Department consists of the Library Director, the Library Services Coordinator, and a paraprofessional.

The Reference Department manages the Library's reference service, bibliographic instruction, and reference book collection. The Department consists of four professional librarians and a paraprofessional.

The Archives & Special Collections Department manages the Library's unpublished and rare resources. The Department consists of two professional archivists.

The Government Documents Department administers the Library's state and federal documents and participates in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The Department consists of a professional librarian and a paraprofessional.

The Serials Department manages the Library's collection of journals, magazines, indexes, and databases. The Department consists of a professional librarian and two paraprofessionals.

The Interlibrary Loan Department manages the Library's borrowing and lending services with other libraries and the Library's Distance Education services. The Department consists of a professional librarian and a paraprofessional.

These three departments manage the Library's book collections, online catalog, and electronic systems. These Departments consist of four professional librarians and four paraprofessionals.

Before the catastrophic arrival of Hurricane Rita, the University had made plans to renovate Frazar Memorial Library. Temporarily postponed due to more pressing needs brought about by the hurricane, renovations will include roof replacement, asbestos abatement, sunken foundation repairs, ADA compliance upgrades, and ceiling and lighting replacements based on an upgrade of the HVAC system. The new HVAC system will alleviate mold and mildew problems. The planned renovations will make the Library more comfortable and accessible to patrons. After the renovations, the Library expects to see an increase in patrons and increased rates of satisfaction with the building.

Located on Beauregard Drive, the Library serves and supports the information needs of McNeese students, faculty, and staff. The Library was built in 1961 and expanded and remodeled in 1974. The Library is open to patrons 79.75 hours per week during the regular sessions, and 80.25 hours in the summer sessions.

The table below reflects circulation statistics and attendance at bibliographic instruction workshops held by the library for faculty and students. The drop in circulation and in number of participants and instruction sessions held during 2005-06 academic year reflect the impact of Hurricane Rita on the Library. Severely damaged by wind and water, the Library was unable to reopen until February 6, 2006, four months after Hurricane Rita came ashore on the Louisiana-Texas border. During the closure, library staff set up in the Curriculum Materials Center in the Burton College of Education, assisting students with internet and database research. Arrangements were made with the local branches of the public library to assist students and faculty.

In the Spring 2005 Student Survey conducted by the library, eighty-five percent of the respondents reported that they found the library to be a place where they could concentrate on their work in the Library. Seventy-four percent of the respondents report that they liked to study and do research in the Library.

In addition to the traditional services and resources made available through the Library, patrons use electronic resources as well. The table below provides information related to electronic source activity from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006.

In order to support teaching, learning, and research at the University, the Library provides access to materials for Distance Education students and faculty as well as those students and faculty on campus. Librarians provides resources and instruction, oversee delivery of materials, provide technical assistance, and answer any questions. Librarians instruct students and faculty in the use of the Library's online databases and electronic resources, speak to classes, answer questions, and provide assistance to individuals through phone, e-mail or fax. The Library can also provide instructional materials and subject guides for our electronic information resources to students in Distance Education courses.

The Library maintains affiliations with other library organizations to provide access to library materials not held at McNeese. The list provides overview of these services:

The McNeese Library takes particular pride in its service to the University and Southwest Louisiana communities.

Resources

The McNeese Library ensures access to a wide range of information sources, including print, microform, and electronic formats to McNeese students, faculty, and staff. The majority of the physical collection is located in Frazar Memorial Library. Resources include the following:

• Books;

• Periodicals;

• Reference works;

• Research databases;

• Federal and state publications;

• Rare and archival materials;

• Audiovisual materials;

• Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) provides bibliographic access to the collection at any time for users from any point with an Internet connection;

• The Library Home Page offers research guidance for users, which includes recommendations for both print and electronic information sources;

• Research Databases which provide access to global resources;

• LOUIS provides electronic resources to library users. LOUIS estimates that it spends approximately $1.6 million annually to license over 50 products from 13 vendors for its members;

• Interlibrary Loan Department gives patrons access to materials not owned by the McNeese Library.

Holdings of books, serials, documents, archives, audio-visual, and electronic resources reflect the library's commitment to support the diverse academic and research needs of the university. The table below illustrates the library holdings:

Works Included in Collections

Type	Holdings
General and Reference Book Collections	* 236,800 cataloged volumes * 21, 155 reference volumes * 25, 173 electronic books
Federal and State Government Documents	* 10,322 bound documents * 68,840 unbound documents (volume equvilants) * 91,106 microforms (volume equivalents) * 3,732 DVDs
Serials	* 1,415 paper journal subscriptions * 70,077 bound journals * 86,111 microform (volume equivalents) * 20,783 electronic journals
Databases	* 88 research databases
Archives and Special Collections	* 200 manuscript collections * 7,574 books and microfilms * Oral history interviews * Original photographs * Motion picture films * Works of art

Faculty and librarians share the responsibility of collection development through a Library Liaison/Departmental Representative Program. Each academic department of the University has both a liaison in the Library and a representative in the department to administer the department's needs for library resources from book purchase requests to tailored bibliographies and instruction.

The Library allocates funds for books and other non-periodical items by academic department and asks the faculty to request library materials supporting academic program curriculum. In the Spring 2005 Library Survey, eighty three percent of the respondents stated that they could find the information they needed in the Library, affirming the adequacy of library holdings.

Other Learning/Information Services

Although the Library is the primary academic support unit on campus, other resources across the campus support the University’s academic mission. These resources are discussed in detail in Core Requirements 2.9 and 2.10 and in Comprehensive Standard 3.4.9. A brief description of these resources follows.

Curriculum Materials Center

Students enrolled in the Burton College of Education have full access to Frazar Memorial Library and its resources. Located in Farrar Hall, which houses faculty and staff in the College of Education, the Center is a specialized resource library for students majoring in education and/or teacher preparation. The Curriculum Materials Center specifically supports the Burton College of Education curricula. As such, it establishes its own policies for operation and for the types of materials necessary to support the instructional programs for teacher preparation. It supports all aspects of teacher education programs and other related programs as well.

The Curriculum Materials Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Frazar Memorial Library circulation policies guide student and faculty use of the Curriculum Materials Center.

Performing Arts Learning Resources

The Department of Performing Arts library collections are comprised of musical scores, collected works, LP recordings, CDs, videos/DVDs, computer software, and a limited number of reference works. This resource is located in the Shearman Fine Arts Center.

Electronic Learning

Another means by which educational, research, and public service programs are supported and enhanced is through the University’s electronic learning (e-Learning) program. The University offers a number of web-based, web-enhanced, and compressed video opportunities for students and faculty. These courses provide flexible scheduling options for traditional or non-traditional students. In an effort to provide students with the highest quality of learning, McNeese State University has partnered with the Southern Regional Education Board’s Electronic Campus in order to ensure the quality of online instruction and make the University's courses available to students in other states.

Discipline-Specific Studio Computer Labs

Faculty across the campus have established labs to serve as resources for teaching and learning. Often funded by grants and/or student assessment fees, these labs are developed by the faculty members whose disciplines they serve. Faculty who incorporate technologies into their disciplines are well qualified, not only in their respective disciplines but in incorporating technology into those disciplines as well. Studio labs include such technological capabilities as the following:

• shared document revision;

• "whiteboard" interaction;

• desktop teleconferencing;

• video communication;

• multi-media equipment;

• data visualization tools.

Some of the following applications augment classroom instruction and enhance student learning:

• The College of Nursing implements a program called “Sim Man.” Student nurses are able to perform assessments and medicate simulated human beings. Paid for by student assessments, the “Sim Man” lab includes two virtual human beings who must be assessed based on symptoms which are generated by a computer. “Sim Man” has his blood pressure, breathing rate, and other body functions tested as a faculty member supervises and provides instant feedback.

• The College of Education has a state-of-the art teacher-training lab which enables teacher candidates to use electronic resources to prepare course materials and video equipment to tape and view sample lessons.

• The Department of English and Foreign Languages uses its Language Laboratory to augment instruction in Spanish and French. Students enrolled in foreign language courses are required to log lab hours throughout the semester. The lab provides opportunity for guided language practice, online audio-visuals to supplement culture studies, web access for foreign language research, and other teaching materials that supplement both beginning and advanced foreign language instruction.

• The English Department supervises a twenty-seat writing lab equipped with writing software to engage students in writing and researching. Computer-assisted writing experiences are supervised by individual faculty members who reserve the lab for projects lasting from one or two class periods to several weeks.

• The Geography Department shares equipment with the English Department in order to provide instruction in using GIS software. Geography students learn to generate maps using technology.

• The Biology Department established a lab in which students can collect and store DNA samples.

Similar labs established and managed by senior faculty members facilitate instruction in the Visual Arts Department in graphic design courses, in the Department of Mass Communication, where under the supervision of faculty members students are encouraged and inspired to develop knowledge and hone their skills.