A CSU Libraries grant empowers student organizations to request materials to support their learning, from books and journals to even skeletal models.
“I hope that [the grants] expand a student’s idea of what the library on a campus is ,” said Randyn Heisserer-Miller, head of collection strategies. “I think it’s important that we change with the needs of the students.”
CSU Libraries has begun purchasing materials for the second annual Student Organization Grants. These grants allow student organizations to request materials for the Libraries to purchase to not only assist the student organizations, but to expand library collections to meet the needs of the greater student body.
The library received 12 applications, a steep increase from the five it received in fall 2022. Applications ranged from requesting books and items related to the student organization to camping supplies and anatomical models.
One of the recipients of this grant was the Graduate Student Council, which used the funds to purchase books and journals. These will be used to support graduate research and provide more resources for everyone at CSU. This is the second year GSC has received this grant, and they now have a place for graduate students to request specific materials.
“We get a broad spectrum of requests,” said Derek Newberger, GSC’s co-president. “There are some requests about diversity and equity, we had some for LGBTQ+ texts and novels, and quite a few psychology textbooks.”
Although not all requests can be honored, the Libraries strives to purchase as many materials as possible. The GSC has seen a positive impact from providing resources to students who need them. Making these books easier to access shortens the amount of time spent finding them, enabling more time to do the research.
Allowing students to request materials gives CSU Libraries the ability to curate materials specific to what research students are doing. This supports students currently learning and researching and students in the future who may need the same resources.
Student organizations that receive this grant can request any material CSU Libraries does not currently have. If the request can’t be fulfilled, library workers try to put the organization in contact with people that can help them get what they need.
