Columbus State Community College Library

The Columbus State Community College Library is a bright example of transformation.  Under the guidance of Director of Libraries Bruce Massis, library staff, college students, faculty and college leadership, the library changed from a fortified, dark warehouse to a beacon of light and creativity.

After the Columbus State Community College Library’s $5.4 million renovation completed in autumn 2011, the library saw its number of visitors jump from 9,000 a month to 9,000 a week.  Moved from the school’s IT department to the office of academic affairs, the library is now more aligned with the college’s academic needs, and beautiful light streams throughout the building thanks to the addition of numerous, large windows.

Library floors were strategically reorganized to better meet users’ needs.  The first floor bustles with activity through its commons area.  The floor supports a writing center, TV studio and auditorium where film series are held, open computer lab, multimedia studio, group study rooms and circulation.  The second floor showcases the library’s outstanding permanent art collection with works by Aminah Robinson and other celebrated artists, a rotating art gallery, reference desk and student computers.  The third floor is dedicated to study through its main stacks, periodicals desk, library instruction classroom and silent study room.

The library is a community partner.  In collaboration with Columbus Metropolitan Library, the library provides students greater access to materials by issuing Columbus Metropolitan Library cards.  At Columbus Metropolitan Library branches, Columbus State students can access all of their college information and online library resources through a special portal located on all Columbus Metropolitan Library’s public computers.  Satellite classrooms have been constructed in two Columbus Metropolitan Library branches, and, in Delaware County, Columbus State has partnered with the Delaware County Library System.

As the director of libraries, Bruce Massis has worked to make the Columbus State Community College Library the center of campus.  Through renovations, professional writing and partnering on the college’s accreditation, Bruce is a burst of energy.  Not content to settle, Bruce is looking forward to the college’s collaboration with Apple to develop and deliver courses through iTunes U.