Ship's library

My colleague who is the current Semester at Sea librarian sent this nice picture of the view from the library desk today.

My family always likes to be able to picture where I am working, so this is for them!

As you can see, it is a tidy, small, yet surprisingly complete library. We're big on stats in libraries, so here are some from folks who have gone before me:

Name: 

Taormina Library. 

Collection size: 

About 9,000 volumes specifically tailored to international study and travel, and to the curriculum of the current voyage. Electronic access to UVA electronic books and databases is a major library service, though you have to be very patient because the internet is sloooooow.

Staffing: 

Two professional librarians plus 8-10 work study students. The library is open every day we are at sea, from 8am to 11pm! I will be the 22nd librarian from UVA to head the SAS library since 2006 when UVA signed on as the program's academic sponsor.

Patrons:

In Spring 2013, we will serve 650 undergraduate students and 35 faculty (teaching 87 different courses). In addition, voyage staff, lifelong learners, and dependent children are welcome to use many of the library resources. The collection is almost exclusively focused on the academic needs of students and faculty since UVA's role is to support the academic mission of Semester at Sea, but SAS courses have been designed by faculty from many disciplines, regions, and interests, so the collection is varied and broad.

Check back for more posts about the library, along with travel plans and other silly things as we get closer to departure. I should have started this blog a while ago so I could fill it up with my endless thoughts on this adventure in a place where you all can read or ignore as you like. We have about 6 weeks to go.

Photo credit: Jane Penner, University of Virginia/Semester at Sea