Reference Point

Public library connections Being available to the public does not take away from the services and collections available in area public libraries, Moore says. In many ways, the university and public libraries complement their respective services. "In the library world, cooperation is critical," he says. "We all have common goals and principles to serve the needs of all our users. " Lise Mitchell, director of the Chippewa River District Library System, agrees. In addition to Veterans Memorial Library in Mount Pleasant, the CRDL System also includes libraries in the nearby communities of Blanchard, Rosebush, Shepherd and Winn. The Wall Street Journal usually is the fi rst newspaper Dr. Ara Sheperdigian, a retired physician living in Mount Pleasant, reads each time he visits Park Library. "I was supposed to do an assignment where I studied and observed a humanities special collection library/archive, "The local history and records are very important. I have several friends that work on their family genealogy in their spare time, and I'd defi nitely recommend the records that document the local history of Isabella County. " she says. " While non-university users can check out most materials and use online materials onsite, there are some restrictions, including not being able to order books through the Michigan eLibrary Catalog and not accessing databases or electronic books and articles outside of the building. But users such as Emily Lindsay have found ways to utilize what is available to them onsite. "I fi nd the books that I need and look at them right here at the library, " who will enroll in CMU's music education program this fall. "I've learned to take really good notes. " says Lindsay, "With the community utilizing Park Library for academic resources and journals, that allows us to focus on the needs the community chose in our strategic plan – such as 'connect to the online world, includes better connections to CMU, and 'create young readers, having CMU and their willingness to collaborate in our community. more cooperation with the early childhood resources at CMU, ' which fosters even " Mitchell says. "It's great " Someone who sees how both libraries connect is Ruth Helwig. The systems librarian at Park Library also serves as vice president of the Chippewa River District Library System board of trustees. Serving on the CRDL board and various committees, Helwig says it is interesting and helpful to see and appreciate the perspectives of the university and public libraries. "The collections of both libraries serve very diff erent purposes, but I fi nd there is good collaboration between the two, and we can learn from each other, " Helwig says. ' which Collaboration is especially important with the statewide interlibrary loan system, Michigan eLibrary Catalog. Pamela Grudzien, CMU Libraries' head of technical services, says she remembers several times staffi ng the Park Library reference desk and a student was looking for a book that wasn't readily available at Park Library. "My fi rst reaction is, 'Let's check the public library, that's one of the best ways to serve the people who use our libraries. '" she says. "It's resource sharing, and " 5

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