Message from the University Librarian

 

Welcome to The Ames Library at Illinois Wesleyan University!

Last year at this time, the staff and library faculty were preparing for our external review, which took place last October. I’m happy to report that the outcome of the review was a resounding success. Our reviewers, two leaders in the academic librarianship community, visited campus to speak with students, staff, faculty and administrators in October, developed a report summarizing what they learned, and provided observations, feedback, and recommendations for the future. It was a deeply reflective experience and also an exciting one, and highlighted for me our strengths and our potential. I’d like to call out one paragraph in particular:

“The culture and functionality of the organization were mentioned positively by stakeholders at every level. One university faculty member stated “If I was asked to pick the best department on campus, I would pick the library.” Other faculty members described the work ethic, resourcefulness, and collegial attitudes that library faculty and staff displayed. Library staff noted the ability of the library to consistently do what was asked of them, and under budget. Students repeatedly noted the welcoming and kindly nature of people at the library. Library faculty and staff described their good working relationships and interdependence, and the success of cross- training initiatives. And administrators and campus partners repeatedly noted the various successes in collaboration and campus leadership that the Ames Library has demonstrated. Examples ranged from the Thorpe faculty development center to instructional design and digital humanities initiatives. The previous successes that the librarians have had in getting Information Literacy recognized officially and pragmatically in the IWU Strategic Plan should also be noted, and fits into a larger theme of successful library collaboration across campus.” (External Reviewers Report, page 2)

The Ames Library continues to be the place where students can walk in with questions and curiosity and connect with any of us here at The Ames Library - librarians, library staff, Writing Center tutors, the Action Research Center, and Information Technology Services. All of us are here to answer questions, to connect students to the resources they need to excel and thrive, all to fulfill the mission and vision of Illinois Wesleyan University. The power of the library lies with its people: those who seek out expertise and those who share it.

I continue to be grateful for the opportunity and the responsibility of leading The Ames Library. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly.

All the best,

Stephanie Davis-Kahl
University Librarian