Ever need a charging cable, calculator, or day pass to a popular spot in Portland at the last minute? Luckily, Oregon State’s Valley Library has you covered with free items like these for rent, along with other special services to help ease your college experience.
Despite the countless students, professors, and Corvallis community members who study in OSU’s library every day, the popular 6-story building harbors some unique features that many aren’t aware of. Here are some of those lesser-known attributes within our biggest space for studying…and more:
Free Supplies:
A colorful, patterned cow statue catches the attention of everyone who enters the library, but just beside it sits a constant collection of free inclusivity buttons, right above the library’s newest books.
Just down the 2nd floor hall is the Media Hub, which offers an all-in-one service for creating digital projects.
Behind the help desk, experts like Micah Mes, offer technological help to fellow students and encourage them to borrow devices like cameras, microphone kits, speakers or projectors, “As long as it’s related to an OSU reason like for a fraternity or for a club or for a class.”
Once you’ve checked out some equipment you can use it right in one of the media hub’s podcasting or video studios and later promote it with a poster, through their printing services.
Wanting to tap into your hobbies, but technology isn’t your thing? Crafty collage kits are available for one-week checkout at the front desk.
Need an activity to enjoy with some friends? Browse through the selection of board games, card games or even disc-golf.
The library encourages curious creatives to enjoy their hobbies even after the doors close for the night. “We have two telescopes, but they’re both checked out right now. And that was in partnership with the OSU Astronomy Club,” said library technician, Sara Trott.
Lifestyle Accommodations:
Students who need physical assistance in completing school work are welcome to borrow white noise machines, fidget kits, noise cancelling headphones, magnifying lamps or a low-vision keyboard from the front desk as well.
The library also recognizes that students with young children might also need assistance while studying. The third floor daycare known as “Our Little Village,” became a student-parent study room in 2021. The large room consists of a play space for children of OSU students. It is even stocked with diapers, wipes and formula.
One of several keypad-accessible lactation rooms on campus is also available on the 1st floor, including a storage refrigerator.
In addition to childcare help, OSU also adapted to support cultural needs by implementing foot-wash stations in each of the three family-assisted bathrooms in the library. Now students can properly engage in their religious practices within the library.
“We really try to support students not just academically but the whole student,” said Student Employee and Facilities Coordinator, Lucinda Amerman.
Student-Centered Support:
Although amenities aren’t the only source of support; students themselves, consistently incorporate their own special additions to the library. For example, the third floor has a collection of prayer mats, at the end of the hall, left by students to use throughout the day.
Amerman explained that students leave hand-made figurines and inspirational notes around the library to encourage their fellow peers during finals weeks.
A student-run group known as “waste-watchers” have even implemented their own compost bins, on multiple library floors, for anyone to dispose of food scraps into.
Students also take the extra step to tutor in specific fields within various sections of the library- from The Mole Hole, to the Writing Studio to the Worm Hole- support is in every section of the Valley Library.
