Located in the Scots Learning Commons in Thaw Hall, the Lamar Memorial Library serves as a central resource for academic research and intellectual growth. The library collection supports the College’s curriculum, and librarians provide research assistance, citation help, interlibrary loan services, materials circulation, and archival research services to students, faculty, and staff. Librarians also teach information literacy and research skills, equipping students with the tools they need to excel academically. As an integral part of the Scots Learning Commons, the library fosters collaboration and learning in a welcoming and supportive environment.
The Lamar Memorial Library prepares students for lives of citizenship and leadership by providing information access and teaching research and information literacy skills.
The library provides information resources supporting the Maryville College curriculum, success in Maryville College degree programs, and individual scholarship and research.
The library, as an academic division, teaches research skills and information literacy, empowering our community to discover, access, evaluate and use information effectively and ethically.
Library programming strives to develop student information literacy as defined by the Association of College and Research Libraries as the “set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning.” (2016)
Students successfully completing a program of study at Maryville College will have achieved the following learning outcomes:
• Be able to determine the nature and extent of information needed,
• Be able to access needed information effectively and efficiently,
• Be able to evaluate information and its sources critically and incorporate selected information into their knowledge bases and values systems,
• Be able to use information effectively, individually or as members of a group, to accomplish a specific purpose,
• Be able to understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and
• Be able to access and use information ethically and legally.
Library Collections
The Lamar Memorial Library provides physical and electronic information resources that are carefully selected to support the Maryville College curriculum and to support student and faculty research. When building collections, the librarians consider three interrelated components: a core collection of essential physical materials, a much more extensive and broader collection of electronic materials, and a robust set of information management tools connecting users with physical and electronic information resources. The primary access point for most of the Lamar Memorial Library’s information resources and collections is through the library website and the search portal, MC Quest.
Research Assistance
Librarians at the Lamar Memorial Library are committed to supporting students in their research endeavors through various accessible services. Students can receive in-person assistance or connect via chat, email, or Zoom, ensuring that help is always within reach. For more in-depth support, students are encouraged to schedule research appointments with librarians to explore library resources, refine their research topics, and develop effective strategies for finding and evaluating information. These personalized services empower students to approach their academic projects with confidence and success.
Citation Help
Librarians at the Lamar Memorial Library are dedicated to helping students with all aspects of their research, including creating accurate citations for their works cited pages. Students are encouraged to attempt their citations first, allowing librarians to review their work and provide suggestions for improvement. This collaborative approach helps students develop essential citation skills for their academic success.
Interlibrary Loan
Through interlibrary loan services, the Lamar Memorial Library ensures that Maryville College students, faculty, and staff have access to a wealth of resources beyond our collection. If a needed source is not found in our collection, we can request it from another library. This invaluable service expands access to information and supports academic success by connecting our community with materials from a vast network of libraries.
Circulation
The Lamar Memorial Library offers convenient circulation services to provide access to a wide range of materials. Students, faculty, and staff can check out books and other resources at the Library Services Desk in the Scots Learning Commons. Librarians are available to assist with locating items, renewing materials, and answering questions about borrowing policies, ensuring that users can easily access the resources they need for their academic and personal interests.
Archives
The Maryville College Archives, located in Fayerweather Hall, is the official repository of the administrative and historical records of Maryville College. With archival material and artifacts dating back to the institution’s founding in 1819, the collections cover the breath of college life of a small liberal arts college. The Archives supports the educational goals of Maryville College through collecting, preserving, describing, and making available for research material related to the history and activities of Maryville College and is open to anyone for research whether they are affiliated with the College or a member of the general public. The Maryville College Archives is open for on-site research by appointment with the Maryville College Archivist. Virtual research assistance is also available via email, phone, and Zoom. Information about the Maryville College Archives is accessible via the Archives section of the library’s main web site.