Library Visit

I visited the library at California State University, Long Beach. The library collection supports every facet of the university's studies, from children's literature to the sciences. The library resources occupy a whole building, from basement to fifth story. Long Beach City College students with current semester student identification can check out books from the CSULB library. Alumni and the general public can also obtain a CSULB library card on payment of a fee.

- List three services that are available at the library.

--Starbuck's has come to the library. A branch of the ubiquitous Starbuck's Coffee chain offers lattes, coffee cake, and other delights on the first floor of the library. Coffee, food and beverages are allowed in the library.
--A computer commons occupies approximately one-fourth of the first floor. Although preference is given to CSULB students for computer use, LBCC students with current semester valid student identification can also sign up to use the Internet-equipped computers.
--Reference services are found on the first floor, to the right as one enters the library. The reference librarians are located only on the first floor. No reference service is available on the other floors of the library.

- Which classification system does the library use? What type of library is it?

The CSULB library utilizes the Library of Congress classification system. CSULB is a full service academic library.

- Describe the library's reference section. Provide information about the types of resources available. Note their electronic/online resources and discuss two of the most popular ones (ask a librarian for assistance if you cannot locate these).

The reference section occupies the part of the first floor behind the reference librarians' desk. The computer commons could also be considered a part of the reference section, as the computers provide access to the greater world of the internet. The Coast online catalog and a service for retrieving books on specific topics appear to be some of the most popular online services.

- What did you like best about the library? What did you like least about it?

On the upper floors of the library, there are large areas designated either for quiet individual study or for group study. I liked the idea that these study rooms were incorporated into the recent redesign of the library. However, I would have preferred to encounter reference librarians on the upper floors, not just at the reference desk on the first floors. There are computer catalog terminals on each floor, but the electronic amenities somehow do not make up for the human touch.

- Be sure to include the location of the library - address, phone number and website address.

Library, California State University at Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.,
Long Beach, CA 90840-1901
562-985-8472
http://www.csulb.edu/library/