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Libraries and higher education have always gone hand-in-hand to fuel academic pursuits and drive research. Traditionally, libraries were one of the only places one could find new information. It was a repository of books with librarians appointed as gatekeepers of new knowledge. However, with the creation of and use of new technology, many obstacles for accessing information were eliminated. Online access to books and documents changed how the library functioned. Over the years, the library evolved from a keeper of knowledge to a place of productivity, discovery and collaboration. With the continued evolution of new technology, libraries must continue to evolve to stay relevant for the modern academic.

To keep up with the times, ������ý Libraries are committed to facilitating exemplary student learning experiences, infusing technology into core services and spaces, and future-proofing the library.

“The library of the future must infuse technology into our core services and spaces,” Dean of Libraries Andrea Falcone said. “Our new MakerLab is an easy way for students to explore prototyping and fabrication into their research and for faculty to incorporate new technologies into their curriculum.”

In January, ������ý Libraries invited members of the ������ý Forum, including ������ý alumni, community partners and donors, to learn more about the Libraries’ commitment to an academic library of the future, providing modern solutions through technology to meet the needs of today’s students and beyond. Falcone presented some of these strategies in a talk titled “Pulling back the curtain: A look into the modern academic library focusing on the mission and vision of the organization, a history of libraries and the ������ý Libraries approach to the future.”

“Historically, libraries were the entrusted holders of knowledge, and you had to be quite privileged to get access to information,” Falcone said. “Libraries focused mostly on access and transfer of information—from our hands to yours. But with the ever-evolving invention of the internet, libraries shifted from being the people to help you not only find, but also evaluate information in a sometimes overwhelming sea of information. Right now, we are at the precipice of our most exciting professional evolution which is helping our students and faculty create and share knowledge.

“Our Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, now in its second year, is a great example of facilitated learning that happens at the Libraries,” Falcone added. “The program pairs undergraduate students with librarians to conduct original research. This experience instills confidence in our student researchers that the library is approachable for collaboration and builds the skills needed throughout their academic journey.”

The Forum event highlighted the newly renovated 45,000-square-foot third floor of the Glenn G. Bartle Library. Hosted in the newly created MakerLab, guests saw 3D printers, 3D scanners, virtual reality headsets and other creation technologies on display. The goal of the new space is to provide an accessible entry point for the University community to explore new technologies that complement other library services.

Chungmin Park, MakerLab coordinator, is one of the newest additions to the Libraries’ staff to spearhead the MakerLab space and grow it from the ground up. A Rochester Institute of Technology graduate with two master’s degrees in Integrated Design and Industrial Design, Park hopes to create a space for collaborative hands-on learning.

“The library itself is a place to share knowledge but also for people to collaborate to make projects or concepts better,” Park said. “Sometimes students might not understand a concept just from a lecture. The MakerLab can be another space the Libraries provide that can elevate the classroom experience through 3D models that promote learning in a more tangible way.”

Equipment provided in the MakerLab includes additive manufacturers like 3D printers, subtractive manufacturers which include laser cutters, and digital perspective machines like Virtual Reality headsets and 3D scanners. As the space opens later this spring for general student exploration, Park’s goal is to collaborate with a variety of departments to discover innovative ways the MakerLab can be utilized.

“Right now, we’re testing each of the machines, learning their limitations and creating resourceful samples so that different kinds of students can think of ways to apply their perspective on how they can use the technology,” Park said. “I know that an art and design major will approach a 3D printer differently than a chemistry major. Having the knowledge of the machines and samples of different materials will help the collaboration process whether it is a mechanical engineering student creating a prototype of a machine they designed or a student in the medical science field printing a replica of a bone.”

Leading-edge service spaces like the MakerLab increase access to new technologies to a wider student population. This intentionality to approachable services allows creativity in scholarship, which may lead to innovation and new discovery. Additionally, this access provides an important throughline by using library collections, including data and primary resources, in the MakerLab projects and housing the final digital products in the Libraries’ digital repository. Creating the MakerLab is a major way the Libraries future-proof their role in providing high-quality collections, services and spaces at ������ý.

“A modern academic library both honors the preservation of knowledge and the creation of new knowledge by leveraging technology,” Falcone said at the Forum event. “The Libraries is one of the largest-reaching divisions that interacts with each and every student at some point during their time at ������ý. By continuing to look for these new opportunities for growth and incorporating the latest technology, we can ensure that students are prepared for their future.”