Grambling State University made state history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building on August 22. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says keeping everything online gives every student access to the most recent, relevant information.
“It makes sense to be able to have these databases available for our students, and they can get the information in a matter of minutes,” she says.
As the name suggests, the Digital Library and Learning Commons has no physical material. Instead, it provides access to more than 1.6 million digital books and pieces of research material. Webber says this ensures students are prepared not only for research in higher education but also for the tech-forward workforce.
“They’re adding value to themselves and to the company that they work for because now they’re not just getting served this information,” she explains.
Webber says purely online material removes the need for multiple physical copies or constantly purchasing current research material, speeding up the checkout process immensely. Additionally, she says, the digital library reflects a tech-forward shift not just among students, but among libraries and institutions as well.
“Just as technology changes, so should the library change,” says Webber. “We want to be able to meet all of the student’s needs and their diverse needs, but we also want to be able to change with the times.”
The $16.6 million facility also includes over 150 computer stations, rentable laptops and 17,000 square feet of study space. Besides being the first in the state, Grambling’s Digital Library and Learning Commons is also the only one of its kind at an HBCU.
