|
The Benjamin F. Payton Learning Resources Center (Library) provides adequate and appropriate library and information resources, services, and support for its mission and that of the College to fulfill its obligations to students, faculty, and staff to serve as a strong informational resource for the community in which it serves and resides.
Named for Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, the 10th President of the College, the Learning Resources Center was completed and dedicated in 1974, replacing the old J.J. Starks Library built in 1937. In 2010, the Learning Resources Center was renovated to its present-day decor. The library is a 66,972 gross square feet facility which has a seating capacity of 540. A ramp is conveniently located for accessibility to the building and an elevator is accessible from all floors. The library is comprised of a technology-enhanced Mobile Multimedia Center and an Archives Center. The library is open 81 hours a week, including nights and weekends.
The Learning Resources Center book collection consists of more than 130,000 printed volumes with access to over 300,000 electronic books (eBooks). The library maintains 3,436 owned eBook titles and are making pivotal advances toward the growth of this collection. The Mobile Multimedia Center’s (MMC) media collection provides access to 30,000 educational streaming videos through Kanopy and owns 2,650 physical media pieces. The library subscribes to both electronic and print scholarly journals, electronic databases, eBooks, online journals, and streaming educational videos. These resources are accessible electronically and are readily available to students, faculty, and staff, both on campus and remotely. The library’s electronic resources can be accessed from any technology device with internet capability- 24 hours, 7 days a week. The currency of library collections as well as their formats are continuously evaluated by faculty and librarians through collection development policies.
The Benjamin F. Payton Learning Resources Center makes available a variety of technology-oriented and resource sharing services. Through the College’s website and library’s web page, students and faculty have access to the library staff; online catalog; electronic and online resources; reference, government, media, archival resources; reference, research, and online assistance; PASCAL’s book delivery services; interlibrary loan; library policies and procedures, and other types of related services. The library’s integrated library management system (ILMS), ExLibris (June 2020), allows students, faculty, and staff to search Primo, the library’s online catalog. Books, journals, government publications, and media resources, in both electronic and print formats, are accessible from the library’s online catalog, from campus or remotely. The ILMS also provides an interconnected platform for shared resources among 55 South Carolina academic libraries. Through membership, these libraries comprise the Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries (PASCAL) Organization, which structurally maintains a shared library platform system that provides students, faculty, and staff at each institution with access to nearly 12 million collective print resources.
The library’s Computer Research Center (CRC) is located on the main level of the library. It serves as a computer lab for the students to access the library’s electronic resources and services through the internet. The Mobile Multimedia Center (MMC), located on the library’s court (ground) level, boasts a variety of media hardware and software that augments students, faculty, and staff needs for interactive tools and instruction. The Learning Resources Center receives system support from the Library Information Technology Manager as well as the College’s Chief Information Officer and information technology staff.
The Benjamin F. Payton Learning Resources Center offers student-focused library services to include: 1) reference, 2) circulation, 3) research instruction, 4) computer access, 5) print, copy, and document scan, 6) media, 6) archival, 7) PASCAL Delivers book service, and 8) interlibrary loan (ILL). These services encompass reference and circulation services which are accessible from the centrally located information services desk on the main level of the library.
The library’s Information Literacy Program is tailored to meet the needs of students and faculty through informal and formal library instruction. Formal library instruction programs place emphasis on research methodology and critical thinking, and the development of lifelong research skills for students. Media Services provides access to a collection of visual, audio, and digital resources that augment the college’s academic curriculum. Archival Services provides access to the College’s historical materials that document the origin and development of Benedict College and the achievement of its officers, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the greater community. Acquisitions and Collection Development Services provides faculty, staff, and students with the opportunity to contribute to the development of the library’s collections. In addition, the library is a selected federal depository for U.S. government publications. All services are offered during regular hours of operation.
The Benjamin F. Payton Learning Resources Center engages in cooperative initiatives that serve to broaden the scope of academic resources for its library constituents. The Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries (PASCAL) organization and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Library Alliance are invaluable collegial library partnerships. The library is also a member of LYRASIS, the nation’s largest cooperative regional network, and OCLC, Inc. (Online Computer Library Center, Inc.), an international bibliographic network. The library is also an active member of the Society for the American Archivist. The library adheres to the standards of the American Library Association.
The library reports to the Office of A cademic Affairs and is under the leadership of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.
|
