Revamping and Rethinking Popular Reading at an Academic Library

Abstract

Many people think of academic libraries as physical (or virtual) spaces and collections maintained for the purpose of patrons acquiring professional knowledge and practicing scholastic research skills. Academic libraries have much more to offer patrons, as is evident by the diversity of programs and resources increasingly offered by college and university libraries. Popular or leisure reading collections can serve as an important function of academic libraries, which also meet patrons’ needs and interests outside of research and homework completion. Academic libraries serve multiple functions and, to some extent, also act as public libraries to many patrons. Consider, for example, the low likelihood that a university student will visit her public library for leisure reading or programming when her academic library is readily available on campus (and likely a critical stop in her weekly schedule). Academic librarians have many wonderful opportunities to support visiting patrons’ interests, personal and professional growth, literacy, and socioemotional development at their libraries.