Die J. Paul Leonard Library der San Francisco State University

Today's visit to San Francisco State University took me to the recently renovated and reopened J. Paul Leonard Library. It impresses with its design, its clear orientation as a place for learning, and its technical equipment. But what I really like is the Library Retrieval System and the Digital Media Studio.

The Library Retrieval System was introduced when the library was renovated to create more space for students to study and work – a clear commitment to making the library a place for learning. Since the move, it now houses 75% of the library's collection, which was previously accessible to the public in the library and organized based on the Library of Congress Classification. Now the books are sorted into bins by size and stored in a gigantic warehouse. If someone orders a book, the bin is identified using the barcode that was scanned when the book was sorted and put away, then a robot brings the bin to a workstation at the end of the shelf – the entire process from ordering to issuing the book only takes 15 minutes. When the book is returned it is not (!) put back in the same place, but instead is put in a bin that still has room with books of the same size. To get an idea of how this system works, it's best to watch this video produced by the library. These types of systems are quite common in the United States.

The Digital Media Studio is just one of many places in the library that offers students useful support with their studies. Here they have a place where they can do audio and video editing, design projects as well as make multimedia productions. The technical equipment is quite remarkable in terms of the software and computers. A large-format printer for making posters and banners is also available for students and faculty to use. The studio is staffed with people who are familiar with the programs and can provide assistance in the event of technical problems.

I like how naturally this library takes on service tasks that extend beyond the traditional horizon of a library. Here they not only theoretically adopt trends, but also believe in the meaningfulness of rooms equipped with high-quality technology and a diverse array of learning opportunities with regard to furniture, rolling white boards, and possibilities for informal discussion. This impression is also confirmed during my following discussion on the topic of information literacy and collection development – and more and more people join in the conversation. Information literacy was introduced as an obligatory subject for all students in 1999. An online test offered by the library must be completed in order to graduate. The future, however, lies in having a presence in "General Education" courses, which every student must complete and which consist of a mix of on-site training classes and online materials. For large undergraduate lectures, tutors are trained in workshops so that they can then pass on research tips. Each subject area specialist is also intensely incorporated into faculty courses to offer students in a course advising specifically tailored to their needs. Wow! At the end of my visit I also get to see the backend of various software programs that the library uses for acquisitions, to evaluate its committed training program, which has been wonderfully anchored into the curriculum, and to create course materials for the training classes. Without further ado, I am given an account for this program so that I can try it out on my own for a little while! What a great library with inspiring people...