By Christian Regan
The semester is back in full swing, and even three weeks in, it is easy to feel buried by work and commitments. Lucky for Drew students, we have a team working to make sure you have all of the materials you need at your fingertips. From over 300+ databases to an online movie streaming program, you have a wealth of options for your papers and research projects.
Bruce Lancaster, one of the many reference associates available, was able to sit down and lay out all of the details. He said, “Our goal is one stop shopping.” He related the new library’s selections as “An Academic Commons” (which up until this year might not have been a compliment. More on that soon). The Library is working diligently on their services, such as the Center for Academic Excellence, which offers tutoring and writing help for every major on campus, and the study spaces available for public use. Programs in the past like “All Night Studying” are being critically looked at and are on the schedule, according to Lancaster, “… if we get the right space.”
Lancaster also walked through the databases, available to the student body, which number more than 300, for every major and field of study. All of these databases are classified alphabetically, or by subject of study. But like trying to find a needle in a haystack, finding articles that are useful can be difficult. That’s why Reference Associates are available.
“We are here 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. during the week, and you can walk in and grab one of us for help,” Lancaster said. Research consultations are always available and welcome to walk-ins. Sometimes it isn’t as straightforward as a single topic Political Science paper. “No one is just a Political Scientist anymore” Lancaster chuckled. Papers are complex, and one database may not have what is needed for your full paper, so meeting with these Reference Associates can be highly beneficial. He said, “Human beings are the quickest source of information!”
In addition to the near limitless sources of literature and references, the library is also rolling out a new movie streaming service. Through the database, students can access Swank, a movie streaming program with a catalog of movies of all genres. These movies are completely free and available to stream at a moment’s notice, allowing students flexibility in use.
The library has always been the best place on campus to do research or work on homeworks, projects, and papers. With the tools Drew students have at their disposal, it’s become more and more one of the best places to get work done, for good reason.
Students can go here for access to databases as well as the Swank movie streaming services.
Sept. 23, 2016
