By Craig Milberg, University Librarian
Everyone is aware that PNCA is now a discrete school within Willamette University (WU). What you might not realize is that as part of the merger, the greater WU gained access to a wonderful library, the PNCA Albert Solheim Library. The Mark O. Hatfield Library (MOHL) and the Solheim Library have merged administratively under an “University Libraries” structure. Generally known as the “PNCA Library,” the Solheim Library brings terrific print collections, digital collections, and programming to the University. Staff members from both libraries have worked diligently through the spring and summer, and the vast majority of PNCA’s collections are now discoverable and can be requested via WU’s existing library catalog. PNCA students, faculty and staff may access the MOHL’s print collections as well. Equally exciting is that the entire WU community can access almost all of the electronic resources previously available at either institution via the existing A-Z listing of resources on our websites.
PNCA Library staff and friends.
Far more important than the merging of collections is the expertise each library gains from the other. From the MOHL perspective, the combined libraries have gained three wonderful colleagues in Portland. Sara Bystrom (Access Services Librarian), Serenity Ibsen (Director of Library Services), and Shaleigh Westphall (Reference & Instruction Librarian) all bring wonderful skills sets and experience to the combined University Libraries. Please join me in extending them a warm welcome.
Members of both libraries will continue to work diligently to combines our systems, services, and processes as the year progresses. For now, while anyone associated with any of WU’s schools is welcome to contact either library for help, we suggest that students, faculty and staff at PNCA will still find it most helpful to contact the PNCA library directly first, while Atkinson, CAS, and CST students should contact the MOHL first. The staff of either library will direct you to the other library if we think it will be beneficial to meeting your needs.