Welcome to the James E. Walker Library at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). As you interact with the library faculty and staff, you will experience their commitment to providing an outstanding user experience to everyone in the MTSU and Murfreesboro communities. As a comprehensive, diverse, and innovative institution, MTSU is committed to preparing graduates to thrive in their chosen professions and a changing global society. Walker Library actively engages in outreach and services that help advance this commitment.
Walker Library offers students a solid foundation on which they can begin their academic journey. Library liaisons assigned to academic programs, are available to assist with instruction, research consultations, and complex reference questions. If you haven’t stopped by Special Collections lately, I invite you to do so. They create and arrange exhibits throughout the year featuring collections such as the Distilling, Fermenting, and Brewing Collections and the Pop-Up Book Collection. Look for new exhibits in 2023-2024. Digital Scholarship Initiatives launched the MT Open Press this year with its first book and continues to publish and host peer-reviewed journals. The MakerSpace is a highly innovative and technology-focused program that supports students and faculty across disciplines. Try 3D printing, explore augmented or virtual reality, use a laser cutter, and more. As you navigate the book stacks you will find both Dewey Decimal Classification and Library of Congress Classification (LCC) as we continue to shift our collection to LCC. Not sure where to find your book? We continue to offer an excellent pull-and-hold service for those needing to access print materials quickly. I invite you to visit the library’s website to learn more about what we have to offer throughout the year.
The Walker Library is immersed in implementing the strategic plan finalized in August 2022. Our mission statement, “Your partner in research, learning, and knowledge” confirms our pledge to support the MTSU community. With support from ITD, we updated one-hundred and twenty computers this summer to enhance the technology experience in the library. Students also have access to an extensive collection of lending equipment. A project team is engaged in a space planning project that will allow us to respond more effectively to changing needs and services. I look forward to welcoming the students back for the Fall 2023 semester.
Kathleen L. Schmand, MLS, MOL
Dean, James E. Walker Library
