About the Library

Dean's Message

We live in exciting times. Just when we thought we understood how people used information, the Internet exploded on the scene. And when we thought we had a handle on that, along came Google and we gained both a new verb and a new way of information discovery. Now Facebook has become a primary connector of people and information.

Libraries are constantly adapting to these new environments; indeed, they embrace and exploit change. Contrary to some thinking, the world isn’t split between traditional forms of communication and new ones – information exists in a world of continuums. People value a wide-range of knowledge, information, and technology, and libraries are a place where the old and the new blend and reinforce each other. Special collections and archives hold unique and eclectic resources that are accessed both on site and online. Printed books are constantly used alongside computers, mobile phones, and tablets. Both electronic media and visual resources of many types have spread quickly in all disciplines. Microfilm has been a great means of preservation, while digital technology is exponentially improving access to the assets created by the scholarly community.

In keeping with this continuum, the resources of the Marriott Library span the spectrum of knowledge and its incarnations, from papyrus to digital files. We also create new knowledge: printing fine print books by employing antique hand operated presses to produce one-of-a-kind items and publishing vital new scholarship through the University Press. We also spur the creation process by providing cutting-edge resources and services that employ our extensive collections, computer resources, and our audio and video studios. We even have the capability of producing books on demand through a machine that allows us to print and bind a paperback in as little as five minutes.

Our services change regularly to match how needs evolve to meet the changing methods of research, teaching, and learning. We teach students critical thinking skills to be “smart for life,” to be learners throughout their lifetimes, not just in the classroom. We provide internships and employment opportunities that enhance their skills and expand their capabilities. Faculty come to the library to reimagine their research and to teach with new technologies. Services are delivered in the building, over the phone, through pod-casts, and via the Internet almost any time and any place.

Even in the digital age the Marriott Library remains a destination for people from all walks of life who appreciate the value of a productive, safe, comfortable, inviting, and vibrant place. The equivalent of more than half the population streams through our doors every day. We also reach the entire world as our digital collections are accessed from every corner of the globe.

Come experience what makes the Marriott Library one of the jewels of the West and a world-class service center. We are ready for you and anticipating even more exciting times ahead.

- Joyce L. Ogburn, Dean, J. Willard Marriott Library and University Librarian