Vice Provost and Dean of Libraries
400 W. 14th Street
Rolla, MO 65409
Introduction
Donations to the University Libraries help us purchase much needed research materials such as books or articles. With acquisition costs increasing an average of 5% per year, purchasing resources is especially important as new scholarly works continue to be published, so this remains our highest need, for both physical and online items. A gift can also supply in demand electronic equipment for circulation or update library seating and space, for example replacing worn chairs, tables or whiteboards. A donor can even provide a gift to name a specific area in the building or a study room, for example, that will enhance the meeting space with technology and new furniture.
If you can help support S&T and the University Libraries, or just want to know more, please contact the Vice Provost and Dean of Libraries, Bella K. Gerlich, PhD by email gerlichbk@mst.edu or by calling 573- 341-4118, or contacting University Advancement at 1-800-392-4112.
Thank you for considering the University Libraries. We hope you can visit us soon.
What is the mission of the University Libraries?
The University Libraries’ mission is to serve S&T students, faculty, and staff by providing critical resources and services required in support of academic, teaching, research and innovation success.
What makes the library so valuable?
Library resources and services are unique, and include physical materials like books, journals and media (over 400,000 items); much needed equipment to borrow such as laptop computers, projectors, models, scientific calculators, chargers and more; immediate and impactful online access to tens of thousands of scholarly articles, videos and over 100 datasets; provide in person research services and consultations; writing and communication assistance; deliver in class library instruction and create research guides; host faculty publications (Scholars Mine); university archives, and more (https://library.mst.edu). The library also offers the most popular physical and learning spaces on campus zoned for quiet and group study including reservable study and meeting rooms, a dedicated graduate study lounge, a computer learning center, a podcasting studio and a green screen room, with comfortable furniture throughout the building to promote relaxation and or gathering.
What do students think about the library? Do they even use the library?
When a campus wide survey asked the question “How important is the library to your life on campus?” 80% of the total respondents (430 students) answered “Important” or “Very Important.” Altogether, the Wilson Library hosts an average of 1,600 visitors a day.
What about faculty and staff?
Our faculty and staff depend on the University Libraries to afford materials in support of teaching, research and innovation. When introducing theory and practice in the classroom, faculty need examples from the field in the form of library resources to instruct students and demonstrate real life applications. For staff, resources provided by the library can enhance work strategies and support processes or findings by aligning with like examples. When beginning a research project, the first step required in pursuing new opportunities and innovative ideas is to mine library holdings for like examples and to ask what was done before? What can we learn from explorations into this topic that will shape the research moving forward, in support of the problem or opportunity?
Everyone needs and benefits from the databases, resources, space and support services provided by the University Libraries.