When you get to college – don’t overlook an amazing (and free) resource — your college or university library! You might be picturing stacks of dusty books and plenty of shushing — but today? You should know that college and university libraries are as familiar with the latest techy gadgets as you are!
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It’s true! At colleges across the country you don’t even have to set foot inside the campus library to find out if it has what you need. The college library is taking advantage of the latest trends, like smartphone technology, to give you easy access.
Colleges like Florida State University and Southwestern College are a few of the many colleges that have created mobile library sites! By keeping the library website simple, using only basic text and no images, college students can use their smartphones, iPhones, or even iPads to gain access to the university library database as well as find out general information like library hours, tutoring times, or the status on library holds.
Do you have a basic research question and need an instant answer from a librarian? You can speak to a librarian without even being in the building! No, it’s not magic – many college libraries are allowing students to text a librarian. The University of Washington library is one such campus library that offers text a librarian services. The University of Iowa library, University of Michigan Library, Berkeley College libraries and the University of Minnesota library and Ashland University library even lets you chat with one!
pobrecito33 / Joe H
Did you spill an energy drink on your laptop while pulling an all-nighter, completely frying its insides? Are you curious about the Apple iPad but just don’t know if you want to shell out the big bucks? If your laptop conks out or if you just want to play with an iPad – you can! Many college libraries let students borrow the latest gadgets.
A few campus libraries offer things that you probably aren’t expecting, like digital camcorders and even digital cameras! The University of Wisconsin Madison Library and St John Fisher College Library even have video games available to borrow (even at college you have a little downtime!). But some, like the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Undergraduate Library, have a whole gaming center – so you can get out of the dorm, spread out a little, and Halo it up with your friends on the XBox 360 or goof around with the Nintendo Wii. Need a little musical practice? The University of Arizona library has metronomes available to borrow! How about a little fresh air? The Oxford College Library lets you borrow a bicycle!
When you get to college and need a little help – don’t forget about your college library! Whether you use it for term papers, borrowing electronics (or books!), or as a place to hang out with your friends, your college or university library has plenty to offer!
