With students often encountering the intimidating grandeur of the University Libraries’ academic collections in the stacks, they feel overwhelmed and often unsure where to start or how to navigate them. The University Libraries staff members took on the challenge of making the stacks a more approachable environment by introducing the New Bookshelf. The initiative, led in part by Cataloging Associate, Mikayla Dixon, was designed to bolster engagement and accessibility of the library’s physical collections by displaying new books added to the stacks.
Accessible and Browsable
The New Bookshelf is intended to encourage exploration and reduce barriers, whether a student needs a book for coursework or personal interest. Dixon said, “I think students, as well as the larger Loyola community, will benefit from this new section because it makes it easier to browse recently added books in our collection,” adding how the University Libraries, “…understand that browsing and locating books in the permanent stacks can be intimidating for some, and hope that this new section builds students’ confidence (and interest) in engaging with our physical collections at the Libraries.”
Dixon highlighted that this practice has been intermittently implemented within the University Libraries for years, but added, “However, maintaining the section has always been a challenge.” Dixon then walked me through the process, saying how after introducing the idea with the Monograph Acquisitions and Cataloging (MAC) Department, Dixon and her colleague, Austin Pollock, opened the floor for collaboration and pitched the project proposal to the Programming & Promotions (P2) Committee, “A priority of ours while developing this workflow was to seamlessly integrate this new process into existing procedures to ensure the New Bookshelf could be easily maintained,” Dixon noted. In February, the Libraries launched a pilot of the New Bookshelf in both Cudahy and Lewis Libraries. The shelves now highlight nearly every newly purchased book for over a month before they are reshelved in their permanent location.
“This means, thanks to the Libraries’ Access Services staff and their Stacks student employees, the New Bookshelf will feature new books on a rolling basis,” Dixon said.
The New Bookshelf is intended to benefit not only students but also faculty and the broader Loyola community.
“I have the unique opportunity to see all of the new books added to our collection daily, so this all stems from my wanting the larger Loyola community to more easily have the same opportunity. This new area also highlights the excellent work of our librarians, some of whom take the time to select these titles for their subject areas based on student and faculty needs and interests.” Dixon added.
For faculty, the shelves provide a convenient way to stay informed about new materials in their fields, bringing relevant resources together in one place.
While the New Bookshelf is now in use, Dixon notes that the project is still evolving. “Some remaining opportunities include promoting the space, both physically with larger signs and promotion at service point desks, as well as digitally on our website and social media,” she said. Even so, the long-term vision remains focused on engagement and accessibility. “As for future impact, I would still consider us in the pilot phase of the New Bookshelf project, but I hope it brings more engagement and use of our physical collections and wider library resources,” Dixon said. “I want students and the Loyola community to know that our collections are constantly growing to better fit their academic and personal needs to succeed here at Loyola and beyond.”
The New Bookshelf is about more than access; its core is the experience it offers readers. “As a self-proclaimed book nerd, I want more people to experience the magic and wonder that is opening a brand-new book without the commitment or financial burden of buying yourself a personal copy.”
By Rahshona Saydazamova, BA 2026
