Oregon State University Libraries

Karyle Butcher
Donald and Delpha Campbell University Librarian
OSU Libraries: Information, Service, Innovation
121 The Valley Library
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-7300
http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/

The OSU Libraries faculty use the library, collections, and resources as a research lab. Research varies from the simple to the complex. For example, the creation and dissemination of bibliographies define a traditional and relatively simple approach to library research - current projects include Internet resources in physics; Yaquina Bay; and the historic Dutch cultural periodical, De Stijl. More complex studies involve assessing users needs and attitudes towards library resources, both traditional and electronic. In a recent study, librarians worked with a member of the teaching faculty to examine the efficacy of teaching evaluation of Web resources. The faculty are continually reviewing the libraries' services to discover new ways of operation, such as testing web-based tutorials and their use by off-campus users. They observe trends in scientific information and publishing, incorporating relevant trends in experimental and basic library operations. For instance, librarians are researching how to move from print to electronic archiving of theses and dissertations. The 35 librarians are committed to integrating research, exploring the dynamic challenges and opportunities offered in the library.
The Valley Library was named 1999 Library of the year by Library Journal, a leading publication focusing on United States public, private, and academic libraries. The Valley Library is the first academic library to receive the award.