Capital University Blackmore Library

The academic year has concluded for students at Capital University, but the Blackmore Library is still a hub of activity!

We had the pleasure of meeting with Library Director Rachel Rubin and Information Services Librarian Matthew Cook to learn about the library’s transformation and upcoming initiatives. The Blackmore Library was built in 1969 and received an impressive face-lift in 2012. Matthew participated in the update and shared it was a campus-wide initiative. The university was dedicated to determining the needs of students and faculty by creating a space conducive to serving them. The result of their work is a bright and inviting space with a focus on service and availability.

The main portion of the library is open to students to meet and study 24/7. It features ample study space, a cafe area with coffee and snack machines and whiteboard tables for brainstorming.

The remodel also gave the library an opportunity to build on partnerships with other college departments. The IT department, which was previously housed in the basement of the building, now shares space at the service desk in the center of the library. This change improved service to students, who often sought the help of IT staff for printer and computer issues at the library. The Offices of Academic Success and Student Success, the Schumacher Gallery and a reading center for education students are also housed within the library. This arrangement offers opportunities for partnership and brings more students into the library. The library’s design team also created vibrant navigation tools to help students find their way around the building. Color coded maps make it much easier for library visitors to find the correct floor and shelf location for materials they seek.

The Blackmore Library is home to several unique collections. They maintain the Capital University archives, the Lois Lenski collection and faculty publications. In the past, Summer Scholars have used the collections to perform documentary research and helped manage the archives. The future holds opportunities to digitize these materials. Library staff are also working to improve the circulating collection, using smart visual cues and statistics to determine which materials are most valuable to their users and what can be removed.

Rachel, who will celebrate her first anniversary at the library this summer, shared that the next few months will focus on increasing library the staff, which currently consists of five full-time employees and around 20 student workers. They are gearing up for the start of the 2018 school year with new initiatives, including a pilot project with “pop-up periodicals” to the business department, which will allow students easy access to materials in their area of study. At the beginning of the new school year, the library will partner with the admissions department for student orientation and offer instruction to first year students.

The library is a viable partner and supportive entity within the university – Library Director Rachel Rubin

Library staff work closely with many departments, as well as the community, partnering with the Bexley Public Library. Rachel looks forward to continuing to strengthen existing and develop new relationships. We encourage you to learn more and explore this incredible academic library!