The Chester Fritz Library . Photo by Nicholas Nelson/The Dakota Student.

Last semester, the Chester Fritz Library faced a financial deficit because of the rising costs of online resources. Now, library staff is looking toward the future with an emphasis on digital resources and making better use out of the space it has.

“The provost office helped out the library last year, again,” said Julie Anderson, acting director of the Chester Fritz Library.

Through Provost Thomas DiLorenzo’s help, the library was able to overcome the financial shortfall it faced and keep the resources it has, she said.

With the library having overcome that challenge, the focus is now on the future.

“The library’s trying to look at what the university community would like,” Anderson said.

A lot of this comes down to figuring out a balance between traditional books and digital resources, she said, but she’s still reassuring toward anyone that fears a change in this digital age.

“Will we continue to have books? Yes, we will. Will we continue to expand our digital library? Of course,” Anderson said.

Anderson also said the library is looking at making the best use out of the space it has. A lot of space is reserved for quiet study but while some prefer independent study, others like socially studying, she said.

In an effort to figure out where they can utilize more space, the university brought in architect David Moore who has a lot of experience working with libraries.

Also included in this examination of the library’s space is looking at which books people aren’t checking out.

There are some books, Anderson said, that haven’t been checked out in years.

While some books might be removed someday, Anderson stressed how important it is to hold on to the parts of the Chester Fritz that separate it from other libraries.

“We truly want to reserve some of the rich resources and treasures that the library has,” she said.

Another way the library is attempting to improve and prepare for the future is through guaranteeing they have a staff with experience in newer technologies.

“Last year they didn’t rehire some of the positions that left. People retired,” Anderson said.

However, that doesn’t mean that there were staff cuts, she said, but that they are looking at what kind of skills are needed from potential hires to work in a modern library.

“By sometime in the next couple months, we’ll have four new hires,” Anderson said.

As for the current employees, she said that she’s “continually impressed by the talent the staff here has.”

Jamie Hutchinson is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].