ABERDEEN, S.D. – Lynn Klundt can remember what it’s like to be an undergraduate student and feel intimidated by entering the campus library.
Now, Klundt wants to assure students there is nothing to fear – librarians are here to help.
“First and foremost we’re here for our students,” said Klundt, reference and instruction librarian for Northern State University’s Williams Library.
Fellow Northern reference and instruction librarian Kristin Echtenkamp agreed that students should never shy away from asking questions.
“They’re not bothering us,” Echtenkamp stressed. “It’s what we’re here for.”
With a focus on customer service, NSU librarians are available to help students in numerous ways. Read on to learn about the library’s offerings.
Research Assistance
Librarians offer one-on-one reference help – either by appointment or simply by walking in and requesting help.
Students can get help from a librarian to make a research plan before they start their project – and they can approach a librarian with any research-related question.
“I always tell (students) that we went into librarianship because we like researching,” Klundt said.
Students can also reach a librarian through online chatting or texting. This feature is sometimes used by students to ask about hours, or to find out if the library has a specific book, Echtenkamp said. If a topic gets too involved, they will call or suggest setting up an appointment.
Classroom Instruction
Librarians also go into classrooms and teach any subject faculty requests – including how to use the library, how to evaluate resources, topic development, plagiarism and citations. They can come in for five minutes or 75 minutes, or even visit a class on multiple days.
“We’re pretty flexible,” Echtenkamp said.
Librarians also often serve as technology liaisons, offering basic troubleshooting, including helping students log into their computers and connect to printers.
They also help students navigate the library’s approximately 80 electronic databases that hold thousands of periodicals.
Library Spaces
The library houses numerous educational spaces, including study rooms, which are available on a first come, first served basis.
The library is home to the NSU Reading Clinic, DDN rooms, the Chinese Cultural Center and the Germans from Russia Cultural Center.
One of its newest offerings is the Creation Lab. This lab was created with education majors in mind, Klundt said, with emerging technologies in the classroom.
“It’s a place they can come and get hands-on experience with technology that they might not necessarily come into contact with,” she said.
The lab includes a smart board, Chrome books and a 3-D printer.
“It’s just a place where they can play,” Klundt said. “It’s a technology sandbox.”
Any student is welcome to use the 3-D printer. The cost is based on the weight of the materials used – 20 cents per gram.
Hosting Events
The library – especially the Round Room – hosts several free, public events. This includes the weekly Wednesday Noon Forums, led primarily by NSU faculty and staff. The Oct. 3 Noon Forum will feature library staff presenting “Open Access Materials and other Library Resources.” They’ll touch on topics including open textbooks for faculty.
The Round Room will also hold a news forum at 7 p.m. Oct. 29. This event features a panel of local communications professionals discussing how individuals in smaller communities consume news – and how they protect themselves from misinformation.
Special Collections
Also available at the library are the NSU Archives, which includes regional history such as Native American history. The library also holds a collection of children’s and young adult novels, as well as numerous works of adult fiction.
Anyone with a Northern ID or an Aberdeen public library card may check out a book from Williams Library. And if they don’t have it on the shelves, they can get it for free through interlibrary loan.
“Students and faculty aren’t limited by what we have access to here,” Echtenkamp said.
Library Hours
The NSU library is open 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays; 1-6 p.m. Saturdays; and 1-11 p.m. Sundays.
Both librarians encouraged students, especially those who have never been to a library, to come in and check it out.
“Walk in the door. I know it’s a hard first step,” Echtenkamp said. “But we’re really friendly people. We want them to succeed. We want to help in any way we can.”
To learn more, visit the NSU Library webpage, call 605-626-3018 or email reference@northern.edu.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $45 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.