Public Agencies: The Grainger Engineering Library By: Greg Seymour

The Grainger Engineering Library at the University of Illinois has been deemed the largest Engineering library in the nation. At first, I was indecisive on whether I should research the Undergrad Library or Grainger Library. After a few conversations with the staff from both sides, I decided to go with Grainger Library paying my respects to a fellow Civil Engineer, and my fascination with being in the country's largest Engineering Library. Located at the north end of the Bardeen Quadrangle, The Grainger Library was erected in honor of the highly acclaimed architect and Civil Engineer, William Wallace Grainger. William Grainger was a 1919 graduate from the University of Illinois College of Engineering. With over an $18 million donation from The Grainger Foundation Inc, and millions more from state and gift funds, The Grainger Library opened its doors to the university and public in March of 1994.

As stated on the homepage: "The Grainger Engineering Library is a five-floor, 92,000 square-foot facility. The building can seat 1,200 patrons, can accommodate 350,000 volumes of library materials, and has the capability of supporting 1,000 networked computer connections that provide state-of-the-art computing and information technologies to assist students in research and instruction and to provide patrons access to information resources held locally and available on the Internet."

The staff were friendly and helpful at Grainger Library. There is a wide range of jobs that Grainger has to offer and getting one of these positions is harder than you would think. I learned that the applicants best chance of landing a job here would be through their ability to network, and their connections; who you know. Grainger Library receives hundreds of applications each semester and the ones that get in are names of credible people they know are qualified. Department offices within the library include the Office of Information and Technology, Office of Collections, Office of Services, Office of Library Advancement, Center for International Library Programs, and perhaps the most familiar the Office of the University Librarian. These offices efficiently maintain and predict all the needs and services of the most technologically advanced library in the nation and can be looked into with further depth at <www.library.illinois.edu/administration/>.

When conversing with current employees, they say the best part of working at Grainger Library is the ability to do your homework on the job with endless resources always within reach. Cons include working the late shift from 2am-6am. The occasional rowdy drunk or bum that stumbles in during the week turns library staff into security. Other than that they had very few complaints.

Simply put: "Following the approval of the Library/IT Fee in Spring 2007, the University Library made a commitment to using Fee monies to provide resources and services that directly support student needs for improved Library facilities, enhance information technology available for public use, and improve access to print and digital scholarly materials that students need to conduct their academic work." <http://www.library.illinois.edu/services/fee/projects09.htmlrary.illinois.edu/services/fee/projects09.html>


A few of these projects include the ever expanding Digital Library, 24 hour operation, and enhanced technology. The Digital library helps you quickly find virtually anything for any project. The 24 hour operation helps students, like me, with procrastination issues and puts more hours back on the clock for working in a productive setting. Lastly the enhanced technology keeps their internet flying at the speed of light and replacing dated hardware, "bringing faster computing power to publicly-accessible computing in the Library", hence the most technologically advanced title.

Through research I have gained a much better understanding of all that Grainger Library has to offer. I have been coming here for two years but never really took advantage of all its resources. Grainger's technology enhancements really promote productivity and efficiency. You can find what you need faster and at a better quality than anywhere else. It's no wonder why Grainger is such a student and public hot spot at night. I feel that Grainger effectively meets and exceeds expectation when compared to what can be accomplished at a library. Whether you are a student or local resident looking for just somewhere quiet and comfy to study/work or need a conveniently located place to meet for a group project with blazing fast internet, The Grainger Library is your answer if you are looking for productivity.