Why Does Union’s Library Have a Bridge?

By Melissa Moore, Public Services Librarian

 

Libraries are known for having many things – computers for research and communication, quiet reading nooks, helpful library staff and lots of books for exploring ideas.

Some libraries also have children’s sections, reading groups or cafés.

For a brief time, Union’s Jackson campus library will have a bridge.

The Bridge, in fact.

Moving an academic library mid-semester is no small feat. Students are in the throes of writing research papers, working on class projects and finishing course reading assignments. Faculty members are heavily engaged in course prep, as well as grading papers and perhaps pursuing their own research interests. Much of that activity takes place every day inside Union’s library, currently housed in the Penick Academic Complex.

But all that is about to change. And that’s why we need The Bridge.

The Bridge will help us transition to the new library. Beginning Monday, Oct. 26 until the dedication of the new library on Friday, Nov. 6, your access to the Jackson campus library will be through The Bridge.

Even while the movers work their magic among our stacks, spiriting away books and computers to their new home, library staff will be in The Bridge, available to assist students and faculty with reserves, interlibrary loan and photocopying. We will also have a Research Coach available weekdays for walk-in research assistance. While we strongly encourage our faculty and students to plan ahead and get their books before Oct. 26, we will seek to fill requests we receive in The Bridge during business hours.

Two services associated with the library will have a different home during The Bridge. The Walk-In Writing Lab led by Dr. Chris Bailey will be held in the C-1 Computer Lab in Penick during those two weeks – on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. When students make a tutoring appointment with the Hundley Center, tutors will make arrangements to meet elsewhere on campus for the appointment.

Some services will not be available during The Bridge. For example, students who routinely use Paw Print will need to print to another location (such as the Bowld or McAfee Commons) during The Bridge. We will not have viewing equipment for media reserves, so those items will be available only for overnight checkout.

The Bridge will be located across from the College of Arts and Sciences office in Penick, near Union Station. Hours for The Bridge will be:

Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

The exception is Friday, Nov. 6, when hours at The Bridge will be 8 a.m. – noon. Regular library hours will resume following the new library’s dedication at 2 p.m. that afternoon.

Questions about The Bridge can be directed to library@uu.edu.

We hope you will join us for the dedication of the new library, and then come visit us often in the new library, which will include a café, a Family Studies Room, larger archives, collaborative study rooms and many reading nooks.

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The Cardinal & Cream is a student publication of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Our staff ranges from freshmen to seniors and includes a variety of majors — including journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing, digital media studies, graphic design and art majors.