by Beth Dedman B.A.’20
We’re celebrating the David W. Mullins Library, which has played a vital role as the heart of campus for decades. Mullins Library was constructed in 1968, when the student population was 10,549, and renovated in 1997, when the student population was 13,389.
Last fall the Phase 1 renovation was completed on levels 3 and 4. The new spaces offer increased seating, updated technology and a variety of rooms for study and instruction. To accommodate modern students, both floors now offer water refill stations, increased access to power outlets, as well as group and individual restrooms. The newly renovated spaces are better equipped to serve the current student population of more than 29,000.
We spoke with Kelsey M. Lovewell, the Director of Public Relations for University of Arkansas Libraries, and Jason Battles, the new Dean of Libraries about the impact of libraries and how Mullins keeps the Razorback blood pumping on campus:
“Whether it’s your project or those of your peers, the efforts of others that preceded you provided foundational works that made your inquires possible. Those works were likely built partially or wholly on previous research. And here is why libraries are critical not only to research on a college campus but to the advancement of society itself. What if you never knew about the research of past scholars in your area of study? You would spend time repeating already completed work. Libraries store the work of the past allowing future scholars to learn and ask new questions and subsequently build new research that is in turn made available in the library for the next class of scholars. And so research advances in this way leading to new breakthroughs, insights and approaches. Whether technology, history, engineering or art all benefit from the past works virtually or physically housed in the library.
The five University of Arkansas Libraries exist to support researching and learning here on campus and beyond. I encourage you to take advantage of what we have to offer.
The Library is the heart of campus offering not only the resources for research but spaces for collaboration and learning and faculty and staff to consult and guide your academic endeavors. In fall 2021, the newly-renovated third and fourth floors of Mullins Library were opened offering a variety of study spaces to fit every need. The third floor is a space for individual study and quiet contemplation – the ideal spot for reading or doing focused work. The fourth floor is designed for collaborative study. It features study rooms for small groups as well as flex-space rooms for larger gatherings. No matter the size of your group, your room will have the tools to make the most of your group’s time whether a white board and markers, or a large monitor to connect to a computer. On both floors, you’ll find an abundance of electrical outlets and robust Wi-Fi for your laptops and mobile devices, as well as lockers to secure your belongings. We are excited to bring some of these features and new innovative spaces and services to the first and second floors of Mullins during the second phase of renovations that is just entering the planning stage.
Currently, the second floor of Mullins Library – the lobby level – is home to a large general access computer lab with printers and scanners. You’ll also find two large reading rooms designated for quiet study on this floor, as well as our new music lab.
The first floor of Mullins offers a large study area in addition to our Special Collections and Digital Services Unit. The former storing the most valuable documents, photographs, books, and artifacts in our collection. The latter, the Digital Services Unit, brings a growing number of that unique physical material to the screen of your computer making it broadly accessible across the state, nation, and world.
Mullins Library is just one of the five University Libraries on campus. We also have a Chemistry and Biochemistry Library, located in the Chemistry building; a Fine Arts Library, located in the Fine Arts Center; a Physics Library, located just near the entrance of the Physics building; and the Young Law Library, located inside the School of Law. These branch libraries contain materials specific to their fields and offer study spaces, computers, and printers.
We hope that you think of the Libraries as great places to study, but remember that our spaces are just the tip of the iceberg.
Our subject librarians offer expertise for every major and minor at the U of A. They can help you get started with your research, recommend relevant materials, and even help you sort out your citations.
The materials we provide access to include books, journals, newspapers, magazines and databases. Our Special Collections division offers primary source materials related to campus, the state of Arkansas, and beyond.
Keep an eye out for the daily Arkansas News email, be sure to follow us on social media, and check our website regularly (libraries.uark.edu). That’s where we’ll post information about new resources, the free training sessions we offer, exhibits on display, and library events.
It’s exciting to think that the research you’re working on right now could change the world and be included in a library for future scholars to discover and use. It’s our honor to be part of your journey.”
For more information about the library, visit the University of Arkansas Libraries page.
