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President's Message
Board Meeting Minutes
Learning About Diverse Patrons: WLA Pre-Conference Report
Training for
600? No Problem!
Endnote
Citation Manager
Featured
Library: Lake Washington Technical College
Regional News
Executive Board Directory
WA/ACRL Home Page
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Featured Library
Lake
Washington Technical College
by Paula Palmer with photographs by Joe Manfredini Photography
and Greg Gilbert (Seattle Times)
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In September 2004,
Lake Washington Technical College celebrated the culmination of a vision with the
opening of its new library. When I began as faculty librarian
eight years ago, the concept was a dream. During the time it took to design and
erect the new 61,000 square foot Technology Building we expanded the previous
library once, moved from the card catalog to the online catalog, traded a
standalone PC with a database numbering hundreds of CDs for expanded access from
the library's web page to an eclectic assortment of databases, and the
collection has grown to more than 20,000 titles.
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Together with an ever-changing cast of architects, designers, contractors,
staff and students we developed a facility that totals nearly 19,000 square
feet (triple the size of the old library) on two floors.
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| Photo by Joe Manfredini Photography. |
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The library moved from a corner of the campus to become the central hub of
the college with its main entrance on a central plaza. The Library gained
much needed classroom space and study rooms, seating areas, space for Media
Services and room for growth. The
library features state of the art networked and wireless technology; along with
desktop computers, wireless portable laptops offer patrons optimum flexibility.
The aesthetics are awe inspiring from the pleasing furnishings and architectural
features to the view overlooking the greenbelt.
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Library Entrance.
Photo by
Joe Manfredini
Photography. |
One
feature that particularly pleases me is the impressive balcony railing that
surrounds the equally impressive globe. I am proud that students and faculty of
three of the college's programs worked together to create that for the library.
Adam Peterson, an Engineering student, designed it; Ben Taves' Welding students
fabricated it; and, Keith Line's Auto Collision students finished it.
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Jim Howe and Paula Palmer look for evidence of global
warming. Photo by Greg Gilbert (Seattle Times). |
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LWTC has implemented a new collaboration named the STAR (Student & Teacher
Academic Resource) Center. Included in STAR are the Academic Skills Center (ASC),
Computer Lab, Media Services, Library, Teaching Learning Center (TLC), and
Tutoring. Not included in the square footage, but housed by the Library are the
ASC, TLC and Tutoring and m2 Digital Studio. [As odd as it sounds I was lead of
the team that developed the concept of a working production facility for use by
the Multimedia Design and Production program. Students create portfolios of
their digital projects among which are projects for non-profits.] |
Photo by
Joe Manfredini
Photography. |
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Photo by
Joe Manfredini
Photography. |
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The collection serves a more diverse population than is obvious. The makeup
of our library patrons is significant in that they are staff, faculty and
students of varying ages from diverse backgrounds—diversity reflected in
some demographics: 29% already have AA or BA degrees, the median age is 35,
29% are students of color.
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| Photo by
Joe Manfredini
Photography. |
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Our library’s services and collection address the needs of students enrolled
in vocational technical programs, those in academic transfer programs, as
well as approximately 300 high school students in the co-located Lake Washington
Technical Academy. |
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Photo by Joe Manfredini
Photography. |
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Along with me, the sole, tenured librarian responsible for acquisitions,
cataloguing, public services, reference and the web page, the library team
consists of: Jeffrey Keuss, Humble and Modest Director who is the soul of the
Library; Ellen Kinamon, our intrepid Library Technician who is a one-woman whiz
at getting all the materials on the shelves; Debby Stanard, equipment guru
always at the ready with a laugh and Media Services; and, Sandra Cole, temporary
Library Technical Aide who competently supports all library operations.
Together, we strive to fulfill the library's mission--connecting patrons with
resources so they will succeed here at the college and in lifelong pursuits.
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Paula Palmer is a librarian at
Lake Washington Technical College.
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