Boatwright Memorial Library and Parsons Music Library help students flourish—both academically and personally. The library works in aiding students not just as a study space, but also by curating valuable resources, inspiring intellectual engagement, and cultivating diversity. The library prides itself on community engagement within and beyond its walls and strives to meet and exceed student needs. The library is both a communal space and an indispensable resource to the UR community, and your funding makes that possible.
The epitome of a student flourishing because of the library’s opportunities is Luis Montano, a junior here at UR, originally from Houston, Texas and majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Coming to UR was a big step for him: he was the first in his family to attend college. “College was a bumpy start - I didn’t really know anyone who had done it before,” he admitted, referring to being an incoming freshman, unsure of what he would find. What he found was better than he imagined: a supportive community in both an academic and social realm, numerous opportunities to excel, and an overwhelming amount of resources.
Luis works at Parsons Music Library and he said working there “makes [him] a lot more aware of everything happening on campus” and has deeply influenced his appreciation for music. He also said that working an on-campus job allows him to focus on classes while also getting income: “It allows for a good balance with my classes.” Working at the library and being a frequent patron has shown him just how much is available at UR: “If I need anything, I know there’s someone at the library who can help me with it.”
He stated that Boatwright Memorial Library is not only his favorite place to study, but also incredibly valuable because of its resources. Luis said that in high school, he never had to write a research paper like the ones expected in college. When his first research paper was assigned, the first place he went was the library: “They showed me how to cite, they showed me how to find the right sources,” many of which he had never done before. As a STEM major, now in his fourth year, he has used the library countless times not just for its productive environment: he finds statistics and data for experiments online and explores books with previous experiments run by other scientists. Finally, he remembered how he felt as a first generation, low income student and offered his advice for incoming students: “Take a breath,” he said, “and get educated on the resources available.” The resources he’s found at the library have earned his gratitude and extended his knowledge far beyond what he thought possible.
As student workers, the library provides not just a workplace, but a haven. We’re able to hone our professional skills in a more relaxed environment, build community between staff and students, and understand the inner workings of our favorite place on campus. This work experience also gives us a deep knowledge of the many resources the library has for the students of UR. The library staff in general go above and beyond to help students work through difficulties and assist in creating the most harmonious learning environment possible. As students, we are able to explore the array of resources that are available through the library’s website and collection: open access texts for affordable access to class material; libchats allow us to speak directly to a librarian; subscriptions and citations give students an innumerable number of resources. Working here gives us both insight and opportunity, in addition to fulfilling our work-study requirements and allowing us to attend University of Richmond. We find that the library is an undeniable resource to students, faculty, staff, and alumni and has campus-wide significance that not many buildings can claim. As both workers and students here at UR, we find not only a workplace, but also a home here in the library.
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