the learning resources center—a hybrid library

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This article was downloaded by: [McMaster University] On: 06 November 2014, At: 05:42 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Community & Junior College Libraries Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wjcl20 The Learning Resources Center—A Hybrid Library Wendell G. Johnson Published online: 29 Jun 2009. To cite this article: Wendell G. Johnson (2009) The Learning Resources Center—A Hybrid Library, Community & Junior College Libraries, 15:3, 127-128, DOI: 10.1080/02763910903021957 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763910903021957 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms- and-conditions

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Page 1: The Learning Resources Center—A Hybrid Library

This article was downloaded by: [McMaster University]On: 06 November 2014, At: 05:42Publisher: RoutledgeInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registeredoffice: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

Community & Junior College LibrariesPublication details, including instructions for authors andsubscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wjcl20

The Learning Resources Center—AHybrid LibraryWendell G. JohnsonPublished online: 29 Jun 2009.

To cite this article: Wendell G. Johnson (2009) The Learning Resources Center—A Hybrid Library,Community & Junior College Libraries, 15:3, 127-128, DOI: 10.1080/02763910903021957

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763910903021957

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the“Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis,our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as tothe accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinionsand views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors,and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Contentshould not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sourcesof information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims,proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever orhowsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arisingout of the use of the Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Anysubstantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing,systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions

Page 2: The Learning Resources Center—A Hybrid Library

Community & Junior College Libraries, 15:127–128, 2009Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLCISSN: 0276-3915 print / 1545-2522 onlineDOI: 10.1080/02763910903021957

FROM THE EDITOR

The Learning ResourcesCenter—A Hybrid Library

What type of library is the LRC? For an explanation, I thought I’d consult somerecent reference works. Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science(second edition) discusses “Academic, special libraries in Romania,” but notcommunity college libraries in the United States. Encyclopedia of InformationScience and Technology barely mentions the “L” (“Library”) word at all, muchless discusses Learning Resource Centers or community college libraries.Surely, the International Dictionary of Library Histories must contain someinformation. Well, it did at least include entries on libraries, but no materialon the subject at hand. Perhaps online databases will prove more useful.Let’s try “Library Literature and Information Science,” or “Library Lit” to thecognoscenti. I executed a Boolean search and entered “community college”and “learning resources center” (I took this last term from the cover of ourjournal). I got forty hits, but the most recent one was from 2005.

Is the community college library an academic library or a public library?I’ve often thought that the Learning Resource Center (LRC) at the communitycollege has a foot in both camps. The LRC certainly supports the academicmission of its parent institution. The collection development policies andprograms of bibliographic instruction serve such diverse areas as the naturaland social sciences, humanities, and technical programs. The most offbeat BII conducted was for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning). Thefaculty also stopped by the LRC for help. They wanted research help—not fortheir classes, but for their dissertations. I helped many faculty members nav-igate the various incarnations of ERIC by distilling incomprehensible searchtopics down to subject headings and descriptors. When the administrationneeds information, a staff member is sent to the LRC to obtain it. OftentimesI’ve located education statistics or books on management at the behest ofDr. So and So.

The LRC also provides library and information services to its tax-payingpublic. In Illinois, community colleges are funded through property taxes.Residents have access to the LRC at the community college within theirrespective taxing districts. To get to my job at the LRC, I had to drive throughtwenty miles of corn and bean fields. Much of this land was unincorporatedand not served by a public library. The most interesting requests always

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seemed to arrive on Friday afternoons. One patron wanted to check theIllinois Compiled Statutes for laws concerning shared wells which straddledproperty lines. Much to her chagrin, the Illinois legislature had not addressedthat issue. We also provided “the locals” (as we called them) with inter-libraryloan service. I helped many neighbors locate items on WorldCat. The onlyservice we could not offer is off-campus, remote access to our subscriptiondatabases.

In hindsight, it seems that a community college librarian needs a set ofskills appropriate to both an academic and public librarian. This librarian runsprograms which appeal both to parent institution as well as to the tax-payingpublic. Patrons of both stripes come to the library for reference assistance.The community college librarian works in a hybrid institution—part academiclibrary and part public library.

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