Library Analysis - Academic Library

Macdonald Kelce Library at the University of Tampa
401 W. Kennedy Blvd.  Tampa, FL 33606
(813)257-3057
website: utopia.ut.edu
Hours of operation:  Summer: Monday-Thursday 8am-11pm, Friday closed, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1pm-6pm
Fall and Spring:  Monday-Thursday 8am-12midnight, Friday 8am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 2pm-9pm

The Macdonald Kelce Library at the University of Tampa is located on the banks of the Hillsborough River.  It has been around since 1969.  The library has over 275,000 books and 1,600 periodicals.  This library is a government depository, so they have an entire section devoted to government documents.  Some of the services offered at this library are free wifi, computer labs, and study rooms.

The librarian I chose to interview was Melisandre Hilliker, the information literacy and outreach librarian.  Her MLIS is from USF.  She began her library career much earlier, while working in the library at Duke University.  While working for the Duke library for twelve years, Mrs. Hilliker was able to move up within the system, even without a graduate degree.  When her husband relocated to Tampa for employment, Mrs. Hilliker sought employment in the library at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg.  She was hired as a circulation staff member, but was encouraged to obtain her MLIS, in order to further advance her career.  While working on her degree, she worked as a graduate assistant in the USF library.  She described it as an invaluable learning experience.  Upon graduation, Mrs. Hilliker went to work at St. Pete College, and eventually found her place at University of Tampa.  At University of Tampa, she is a teaching librarian.  Every semester, she holds classes for incoming freshman, nursing students, and business students, on how to utilize the library and everything the library offers.  She also rotates with the other librarians and spends approximately twenty hours a week working the reference desk. Mrs. Hilliker participates in several professional organizations, including the Florida Library Association, American Library Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries.  She is active in these associations and goes to conferences, every year or so.  Her supervisor is Marlyn Pethe, the library director.

Walking into the library, I was a little intimidated, but probably because I had never been there.  When walking into the library, there is no real lobby, you are just in.  There are shelves for new books to the right, with a couple of nice armchairs for reading.  Across from that is the reference desk, where I met and interviewed Mrs. Hilliker. Behind the reference desk are the print reference materials, of which there are a lot.  The circulation desk is located towards the front of the library, against the wall.  Across from the reference desk are the stacks containing print and bound periodicals.  The print government documents are also located on this side.  Beyond those shelves, in an area all the way to the right of the building, near some lovely windows is an area or working or reading.  There are tables with outlets nearby for those wanting to work on their laptops.  There are comfy chairs and couches for reading.  I really wanted to curl up on one of those couches with a good book.  It was really quite and serene, but I was informed that during the fall and spring semesters, especially during finals, it can get quite loud, with students piled up everywhere.  The main collection of books is located on the second floor.  There were a few people in the library the morning I visited.  Many were working on computers and printing out things for their classes.  There is no food allowed in the library and drinks are only allowed in containers with screw on or hard plastic tops.  That is a big difference from USF library.  Also, cell phone use is not allowed inside the library and smoking is not permitted with twenty-five feet of the library doors. 

This library serves the students, faculty and staff of University of Tampa, but anyone is welcome inside its walls.  There is one computer that is accessible to members of the public, but priority is given to UT students.  Sometimes, members of the public may be directed across the river to the John F. Germany public library.  There are statistics about how many people enter the library and how many books are circulated, but that information was not available.  I was told that particular information is used to determine how much money the library gets and how to staff the library.  Currently there are ten librarians, including the library director, and ten paraprofessional staff.  During the semester, the library also has a team of work-study students at their disposal.

The Macdonald Kelce Library has several special collections.
First, it has a Florida Military Collection.  This collection was founded in 1973, and houses one of the Southeast United States' largest private collections of military books, documents and military memorabilia.  There are more than 7,500 volumes in this collection and it is located in its own room on the first floor.  This room is favorite of students for studying because it is usually very quiet.  This collection is used mostly by history students or those in ROTC, but sometimes requests will come from all over the country, from the Interlibrary Loan service.  Members of the public are also welcome to use the Florida Military Collection. 
Another special collection would be the archives.  This is where the rare and old books or documents are kept.  Some examples would be UT documents, administrative records, local history items and much, much more.  These items can be seen by appointment only.
As I mentioned earlier, UT library is a government depository, and this collection contains just a part of all the print materials the government puts out.  A lot of these material are available online now, and the library also has access to those.

What did I leave with?  I always thought that the public library was where I would be able to help the community the most, but I found that the academic library helps the community also, just in different ways.  The academic librarian is there for the students, but not just the ones that go to that particular school.  Any students, or member of the public for that matter, are welcome to come in, ask questions, look at magazines, etc.  The librarian has no way of knowing who is a student of their college, or the next one over, or just a random person.  I never thought about going into an academic library other than my own for resources.  I always thought that wasn't allowed.  Of course, it's not.  The purpose of the academic library is to educate, so all seeking education should be welcome.  Of course, all the services might not be available, but many are.

I also learned that the profession of librarianship is a very close knit community, in a very small world.  These librarians also had a passion for their profession.  They were happy to be there, happy to help and eager to learn more about their field.  I think working in an academic librarian would also be a very exciting experience.  There are lots of opportunities, especially to grow and learn in your field, and to assist others in their career path and growth.