Library
The W. L. Lyons Brown Library stands as a visible symbol of
the centrality of teaching and learning at Bellarmine University. The services and
collection resources of the library support the curriculum and general information
needs of the university community. In addition to housing the library collections
and services, it also contains the Thomas Merton Center, the
Student Success Center, the Office of Military and Veteran Services and the majority of all technology operations.
The W. L. Lyons Brown Library is a teaching library. Librarians work closely
with faculty members to ensure that Bellarmine students learn to appreciate the
value of informed participation in their communities. These collaborative efforts
support the development of students into lifelong learners.
The Lansing Learning Commons
The Lansing Learning Commons, located on the main floor of the W. L. Lyons Brown Library, is space designed to support individual, collaborative and group work among students. With its moveable tables, chairs, soft seating and whiteboards, the LLC is an excellent place to study, read and write both alone and in groups. The area includes current technology such as large monitors for collaborative work on presentations and projects, a color printer and both PC and Mac workstations for student use. In addition, it has ample electrical outlets and charging connections to support personal devices. There are also five group study rooms in this area.
Reference Services / Ask Us
Professional librarians provide individualized research assistance to students, staff
and faculty. This one-on-one assistance helps students learn to effectively use the
academic resources available through the library. There are also two online services, Ask Us and Chat, where students, staff and faculty may submit reference questions with which they will be assisted by one of the reference librarians.
The library’s resources include over 85,000 print materials, as well
as over 100 online databases, including EBSCOhost, ProQuest, JSTOR, Ovid and the Kentucky Virtual Library. In addition, the library provides access to over 350,000
eBooks and over 65,000 online periodicals. Access to the library’s online catalog and other online resources is provided from computer workstations on Level 1 and other terminals throughout the building, as well as remotely through the campus network.
Interlibrary
Loan services are provided so that students and faculty may access materials that
are unavailable locally. In addition to the Bellarmine resources, all Bellarmine
students have access to other academic and public libraries in the Louisville area
through the Kentuckiana Metroversity consortium. The library is a member of
the Federation of Kentucky Academic Libraries (FoKAL) consortium and uses the OCLC national database for
cataloging and interlibrary loan purposes.
Classroom Instruction
Hands-on instruction and active project-based learning are important components
in achieving the goal of information literacy for our students. The Online Classroom,
located on Level 2 of the library, includes an instructor’s workstation and
14 student workstations, enabling 28 students working in pairs to receive hands-on
instruction from librarians and instructors. Equally important, this classroom
permits students to work subsequently on research projects under the guidance
of their instructors during scheduled class or lab periods. When not being used
for classes, the classroom is open as a computer lab.
Information Literacy
Information literacy for all students is an important focus of the University.
Through individual and collaborative efforts, the librarians and staff actively
promote information literacy, emphasizing the ability to locate, access, evaluate,
and use information. This ability is essential for lifelong learning and is developed
over time. Bellarmine students participate in a general education curriculum that
is designed to be strongly developmental and help students cultivate and master
abilities essential to a meaningful education. Many of these goals are achieved by
connecting the student directly to the intellectual and technological resources
available through the W. L. Lyons Brown Library.
Study Spaces
Students enjoy a variety of environments in which to study, including the Lansing Learning Commons, group
study rooms, individual study carrels and lounge chairs, as well as tables, ledge desks, a spacious
reading room, and additional tables among the book stacks. Level 2 of the library has been
set aside as a “quiet study floor." The library building also includes study locations
offering networked desktop computers, connections to the campus network and
Internet for laptop computers, and a wireless network which allows members of
the Bellarmine community to borrow laptops at the Circulation Desk for use in
the library. Library users can log on to the campus network and the Internet from
virtually anywhere in the library.
Noise, Cell Phone and Service Animal Policy
It is very important that we maintain a quiet environment for those who will be
using the library for studying and research purposes. Level 2 of the library has
been set aside as a “quiet study floor" for individuals. Groups of students are given
priority for the group study rooms, in order to facilitate collaborative learning in a
more peaceful environment. These policies are intended to enhance an atmosphere
that is conducive to study and research.
Patrons are asked to turn off or set on silent cell phones when entering the
library. As a courtesy to all, cell phones should not be used in any study areas
of the building. House phones are available on all levels of the building for your
convenience. The library staff asks for cooperation in maintaining a noise-free
library and adhering to the quiet floor, group study room, and cell phone policies.
Also, keeping with campus policy, no animals except certified service animals are
allowed in the building.