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I became a librarian because I love books, but as in any relationship, love is not enough. These days my love affair with libraries has nearly pushed me to my limit of embracing change, considering other points of view, and practicing the painful art of compromise. Let me tell you about this love nearly gone wrong.

During a job interview a few years ago, I was asked if libraries would continue building large collections of books. For someone who loves books, it seemed like an absurd question, especially with the quantity being published each year. Then just last week, on a visit to some new libraries, I recalled that question when each tour guide talked about downsizing their book collections before occupying new spaces. But was I really surprised when even at GTCC, we have often chosen electronic information over the printed?

Heresy, you say? Necessity, I’d say. In a community college library where students increasingly get to the library over the Internet, where space is at a premium, and where students’ time is limited, maybe printed materials are not the best choice. It’s one of those compromises that you make in a love affair.

Think of the adjustments I’ve had to make. The book collection is not the center of things and librarians no longer shush noisemakers? Can you imagine it; a library where students want to work together and move the furniture and write on whiteboards as they work. What must a library be like where cell phones are allowed and snacks are okay? Sound like a pretty crummy place to you?

Well, guess what? It’s not. We’re singing “Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back,” just like in the sixties hit song. And we’re working hard here at GTCC to bring them all back. We are excited to see students in our quiet study zones. We are just as thrilled to have students who learn best by working together in small groups. We are head over heels in love with faculty who want to have links to our electronic resources in their online courses or bring their students to us and ask us to help their students in doing a research project even if it is only a one-night stand. We swoon at the sight of students interactively learning as they examine the contents of the boxes of bones that we’ve checked out to them. We rejoice in students who use the library’s computers to get to their online courses, or those who are simply checking their email or Facebook accounts.

We are in love again. We thought that they had forsaken us. But no, they really only wanted a little more comfort and a lot more convenience, and a heck of a good place to be. What fun. Creating that place is sort of like having your make-up and hair done for a big night on the town. Just imagine how we will woo their hearts anew.

Beverley Gass, DLS, is Dean of Learning Resources at Guilford Technical Community College.