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Editor’s note: This article is based on a poster presented at the 2023 Medical Library Association Conference.
In 2013, the Eccles Health Sciences Library took a bold approach and deaccessioned 90% of its existing print collection. The shelves that once held hundreds of academic textbooks and journals now stood empty. This decision transformed the space in our library. We were now a library without stacks.
The result? 16,000 square feet and 24,000 linear feet of newfound freedom. Areas that were once filled with rows upon rows of shelves are now used as study spaces, exhibits for our history of medicine collection, demonstration areas for educational technologies, and offices for faculty and staff lending support.
A Casual Reading Collection Emerges
As new uses in the library emerged, so too did a sense of loss surrounding what makes a library a library - books. Students would come in and ask, “Where are the books?” To meet patrons’ needs, and to help the library restore its identity, the idea of a casual reading collection began to take shape. Why not create a collection where weary health sciences students and curious minds could escape into the world of literature without the weight of academic rigor?
In November 2020, a large shelf by our front entrance began filling with books again. But these weren’t books most students would expect for a health sciences library. Instead, they were an eclectic mix of titles designed to delight, inspire, and provide respite.
Image: A display case with books from our Casual Reading Collection and highlighted titles.
Why Here? Why Now?
It may seem outside of scope for an academic health sciences library to provide materials more often found at the public library. Yet, we have committed ourselves to creating an environment and collection that leads to a well-rounded student. Just as academic units try to create holistic education, we too provide areas in our library for both rigorous study and leisurely reading, contributing to all facets of intellectual growth.
As a health sciences library, we’ve witnessed an overlap with our main academic library offerings, where students also have access to find refuge in their casual reading section. Why not replicate this success within our own walls? We find that students enjoy the easy access of having books at their fingertips and near their classes and study areas. Many students seek the same popular titles so multiple copies provide more availability.
Allocating some of our precious funds and square footage to a casual reading collection was our way of creating balance. Our library isn’t just about research papers and scholarly journals – we also foster a love for learning. By investing in this collection, we create a harmonious blend of academic pursuits and leisurely exploration.
The Casual Reading Collection: What’s Inside?
Our Casual Reading Collection, curated by a handful of library employees and from patron suggestions, boasts over 600 titles that cater to diverse tastes and audiences. The books in the collection showcase the human side of health sciences and libraries, promoting wellness, empathy, sustainability, and equity. Here’s a glimpse of what one might find in the collection:
The full list can be found here.
Image: A virtual browsing guide for the library’s Casual Reading Collection
Engaging the Community
We believe in inclusivity. Anyone in the library, especially students, can suggest additions to our collection quarterly. We’ve also forged partnerships with the medical humanities program, highlighting timely and relevant works based on monthly themes. Our front desk staff make recommendations, which we highlight in our library’s monthly newsletter. We’ve also asked for faculty and dean recommendations, which are set apart with written commentary on the inside of the front cover that convey messages of support to a future generation of healthcare professionals.
Growing Together
Our collection continues to evolve. With 615 titles and counting, it’s a joy to see the community engage in the library’s commitment to making all types of knowledge, accessible. The cost of book purchases for the Casual Reading Collection is relatively small compared to our other purchases, and currently stands at about $6,000. We are also actively pursuing monetary and book donations as well as used books to fill in for titles that are missing.
The titles from the collection are the most requested items in our print collection. Since its creation, we’ve had 635 requests, holds, and loan transactions on titles from this collection.
The Library’s Heartbeat
As people walk past the shelves of our Casual Reading Collection, they’ll notice an atmosphere that is expected of a library - a sanctuary where knowledge and leisure intertwine. Students studying nearby the collection now notice that the shelves serve another option: absorbing sound. Voices and chatter that once echoed against the walls of the library are now absorbed by books, helping those students seeking a quiet place to study.
The collection serves as a reminder of what we at the library are here to do - build a culture of curiosity while also providing the space and materials that offer an escape from the pressures of the learning process.
DCT Featured Article - July 9, 2024
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