On any given day, Moravian students fill Reeves Library, doodling their notes on whiteboards, sitting in glass rooms working in a group, or quietly listening to music on the upper floor while last-minute studying for a class.
The library is a sanctuary of student support, and I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight all they do for this campus. If you are struggling with writing, you can always visit the Writing Center, but the Reeves Library is also an amazing resource.
First, interlibrary loan is a lifesaver for students researching niche topics, such as my Honors project on women’s madness in 20th-century literature, for which I have had some difficulty finding sources. But fear not – Reeves Library is here to help! Not only are interlibrary loans free, but they are also quick; I have never waited more than a few days for a source I requested, and I know the staff works tirelessly.
For students working on larger research projects or Honors theses, this service is especially valuable. Many scholarly books and articles are not available at every university library, so being able to quickly borrow materials from other institutions allows students to access research that would otherwise be impossible or at least much more difficult to obtain.
You can also use interlibrary loan to rent textbooks for free, possibly saving students hundreds of dollars.
There are also student workers at the Reference Desk, who can help you find sources for a particular class or topic if you’re struggling with researching. For those interested in Honors Projects at Moravian, you have to meet with a librarian in order to complete the application for the Honors Program. In this meeting, the workers will offer guidance on topic analysis and research strategy.
For my Honors Project, I have been working with Director Kim Demyan as my liaison, and I am always amazed by how much she knows. If she doesn’t know the answer, she knows where to point you. She is also a very lovely, kind, and funny woman; it’s my personal opinion that Reeves only hires the sweetest people. I would be remiss not to mention User Experience & Assessment Librarian Kris Beutler, who has been a steady force at the library for years.
Librarians are trained researchers themselves, so they understand how to navigate databases, track down obscure sources, and refine research questions in ways that can dramatically improve a student’s project.
Do not underestimate the power of librarians – they typically need a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree in library science (MLS/MLIS), which usually takes about five to six years in total. That is a lot of knowledge they hold!
I also love the organization of Reeves, with upper levels reserved for quiet study and the lower floors specifically meant for group work or conversations with friends (even if students sometimes have a hard time following those rules … ).
At public libraries, I hate it when I’m trying to work quietly, and there’s a huge group next to me yelling and joking, but I also hate it when I want to discuss group work with my friends, and I don’t want to interrupt those silent students next to me. Reeves found a great way to balance these needs with different floors offering different levels of quiet.
Reeves Library also hosts speakers and events, such as author talks and its recent salon discussing AI in higher education. These events expand the library’s reach from just a location where students can study to a place where academic conversations continue outside the classroom.
And Moravian students are not just limited to Reeves and its resources, either. As a part of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC), Moravian students, including Honors Candidates, can use the libraries at Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University and Muhlenberg College, as well as check out materials from those libraries (as long as you present a Moravian ID).
Beyond research support, Reeves also provides one of the best study environments on campus. Whether students prefer quiet individual desks, collaborative glass study rooms, or whiteboards for note-taking, the library offers a variety of environments that allow students to study in ways that work best for them.
With its dedicated staff, research support, collaborative spaces and access to a dedicated network of regional libraries, Reeves Library plays a central role in the academic life of Moravian students. For the countless ways it supports learning both inside and outside the classroom, the library and its hardworking staff truly deserve this, and every edition’s praise.
