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VIVA: Averett University

Virginia's Academic Library Consortium

This guide has variable layouts and houses the majority of the "sub" pages for VIVA's website.

VIVA Featured Member Library: Averett University

An interview with Elaine Day, Director

Averett University

What are your top three points of pride in your library?

  • The library takes pride in our educational mission and faculty-staff partnerships to advance the curriculum, research, and reading interests of Averett students with scholarly and professional sources, reference consultations, and instruction.
  • We are involved in the life of the campus, including the university’s "Growth Mindset" quality enhancement plan, and interdisciplinary studies for traditional and adult students. For over 30 years, Blount Library has extended resources and services to a growing diversity of programs for adult learners across the Commonwealth. In October 2018, the academic commons and other technology-rich spaces enabled the library to welcome 22 traditional classes per week during campus-wide recovery from Tropical Storm Michael.
  • Averett’s library is small in size and budget, but mighty in outlook, trending in the front line of innovators for resource discovery and access.

What is (are) the most popular spot(s) in your library for your users?

  • The Academic Commons at Blount Library is popular for a variety of activities, including formal classes and presentations in the conference area with big screen and wall mounted PC.
  • For low–key presentations and discussions, students favor cozy chairs near the ready reference collection. A modest coffee service and café tables draw daily visitors.
  • Scholars Workstations (computer pods) in the academic commons are a big hit, seating up to 24 students, or students in consultation with librarians and tutors.
  • Art students offer three or more exhibits per year in the academic commons, which serves also for display of the university’s permanent art collection.
  • Mobile white boards are continually on the move as study groups gather on all three floors.

Which VIVA resource or service does your school value the most, and why?

  • EBSCO databases, especially Academic Search, Business Source, and Educational Research Complete are hugely popular. We are also thrilled with SocIndex with Full Text and financial data from Mergent Online.