Textbooks comprise about 14% of enrollment costs, a financial hurdle that compels some college students to forgo course material at the expense of their grades. To reduce these costs, the libraries are partnering with faculty to offer helpful services: Open Educational Resources, a low- to no-cost digital textbook alternative; Course Reserves, which offers free access to materials through class portals; and a check-out service for expensive equipment.
When Aggies need to master their media-enriched instructional projects, The Studio at Evans Library is the place to begin. Students, faculty and staff can create all types of graphics, audio, video and multimedia projects with the help of trained technicians. Many Aggies also use this space’s professional-level equipment to record music, podcasts and more.
When students can’t find the necessary resources to complete an assignment, frustration usually follows. This service, as its name implies, relieves that frustration by asking the libraries’ experts to quickly source the necessary book, document or other material outside of Aggieland.
The libraries have always encouraged collaboration, but leadership is now focusing on what “collaborative spaces” mean to the success of each student. Drawing from the experience and expertise of academic partners across campus, the libraries plan to evolve their spaces to meet individual needs and support student academics, wellness and mental well-being.
Time risks the ruin of important documents, photos, films and audio recordings, but the libraries are saving these resources one digital collection at a time. From topics like folk music to the Great Depression and beyond, Aggies can find information for coursework, faculty can utilize material for research, and the general public can realize history’s impact on the global community.
