Outstanding Unit

University Libraries staff

The University Libraries received the 2019 Outstanding Unit Award for the vital role its staff members play in the academic mission of Wright State University.

The staff of Wright State’s libraries are committed to helping students succeed. This past year, the Dunbar Library went through a carpeting and modernization project. This included shifting collections, moving furniture and selecting new furniture to fit the needs of students.

Dunbar Library also added new quiet and study rooms, created more quiet space areas, and extended hours of operations during finals week and the summer semester. These changes helped students access materials they needed more often and with ease.

In addition to reference services, the staff teaches public history courses and information literacy instruction, provides a learning laboratory in the Special Collections and Archives, fills interlibrary loan requests and processes thousands of book requests.

The University Libraries have received grants to reserve materials, study the impact of library research appointments on student success, create library research days for local high school students and produce online information literacy workshops. The libraries also fund the Library Student Assistant Awards, which provides scholarships to library student employees.

Through it all, the University Libraries have been able to overcome budget restrictions and staff shortages to continue to bring vital, beneficial resources to Wright State students, faculty and staff.

David Bringhurst, assistant dean for academic success and foundation studies, said the staff of the University Libraries go above and beyond for students.

“Our librarians have stood shoulder to shoulder with their professional colleagues to ensure that academic freedom and inquiry can thrive free from fear of reprisal,” Bringhurst said. “The quiet courage they have demonstrated cannot be overstated.”