The Library The Library serves Biola University as the central information resource facility, supporting all undergraduate and graduate programs with extensive resources, regardless of format or location, and a wide variety of services. Opened the fall of 2001, our state of the art, 98,000 square foot, tri-level Library, located on the campus quad, integrates traditional print, modern online electronic, multimedia and audio-visual resources. In an environment that respects the privacy of the individual scholar and facilitates dynamic, interactive, collaborative learning groups, our flexible Library will serve the University for many decades. In addition to a two-story, quiet current periodical reading room with mezzanine, the Library provides 24 group study rooms. The technology-rich instruction room serves 48 students in a class setting at 24 computer work stations, which are available for individual students when not used for group instruction. Our local area network in the Information Commons allows up to 32 simultaneous users. Further, the Media Center provides 15 dedicated multimedia viewing and listening stations. The building provides space for over 900 individual study stations at carrels, tables and casual lounge reading seats equipped with data and power connections for laptop computer use. The upper-level study terrace and the middle-level Giumarra Court offer more than 100 outdoor study spaces with wireless network connectivity. The 12-seat coffee and food court provides an informal setting for study, fellowship and nutrition breaks. The signature rooftop beacon symbolizes Biola's focus of bringing the Light, so that the Light may shine through enlightened servant leaders to the glory of God. In addition to a growing collection of more than 310,000 print volumes, the library currently subscribes to more than 1,000 print periodical titles, with several journal back files dating from the 19th century. Further, thousands of additional periodical titles are available full-text online to anyone with authorized Internet access from anywhere, anytime. The diverse collection reflects Biola's enthusiasm and scholarly commitment to the integration of faith and learning in all academic disciplines, Bible history and translation, the historical roots of fundamentalism and evangelical Christianity, and worldwide Christian service. Special collections embrace extensive microform resources, selected Bible study tools in Braille, and curriculum resources for teacher education. The Library provides access to its holdings through a web-based online public access catalog and circulation system. Further, over 90 online databases are available through our local area network and the library Internet home page. Library automation reflects the University's commitment to quality service and expanding resources through the electronic exchange of ideas and information. In addition, adaptive technologies and fee-based photocopying, scanners, printers, microform readers and reader-printers and even typewriters facilitate resource use. In all, when completely furnished, the Library can seat over 1,200 patrons at a time. The Library is a gateway to the world of information and knowledge. It offers trained reference help at posted times to connect patrons to our own and other relevant library resources throughout the world. Reciprocal direct borrowing promotes Biolan access to the library resources at California State Universities at Fullerton and San Bernardino, selected members of the Link+ consortium which includes many public, college, university, and seminary libraries, as well as other consortia and cooperatives. Interlibrary loan services facilitate borrowing resources from thousands of libraries around the world. Networked computer services help Biola scholars access the Internet and international bibliographical and full-text databases through such vendors as OCLC First Search, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, J-Stor, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, ebrary, and NetLibrary. Nine professional librarians, a well-qualified paraprofessional staff, and many able student assistants provide service more than 95 hours per week during the regular campus semesters with adjusted schedules of service available year round.
Media Services Media Services in the Library offers a variety of audio-visual resources to enhance the quality of communication and instruction by faculty and students. Media Services has thousands of cataloged audio and video tapes, CDs, DVDs, laser discs and films that support Biola's academic programs, which are available for use at the Media Services' equipped carrels, media and group study rooms or borrowed for short-term use outside of the library. Further, they support classroom instruction through digital projection, presentation and a-v equipped roll-about units. Assistance and training are available to assure the proper use of the equipment and media resources. Media Services also provides duplication and media transfer services for a fee of various media for copyright cleared items. Center for Christian Thought The mission of the Center for Christian Thought is to facilitate, promote and disseminate biblically informed thinking and scholarship about timely issues in service to the Academy, the Church, and Culture. The Center awards fellowships and supports collaborative endeavors for engaging a variety of critical themes. The Center seeks to promote multi-disciplinary conversation within Biola ΚΌ s faculty community and to attract engaging thinkers from around the world. http://cct.biola.edu/ Center for Learning Enrichment, Assessment & Research (CLEAR) CLEAR serves as the offices for the Director of Assessment and the Director of Instructional Development. The mission of CLEAR is to help spearhead the University's efforts to become a more intentional learning organization. In providing essential support and resources, the objectives of CLEAR are to: 1) Lead the institutional efforts to maintain educational effectiveness and excellence, 2) Provide a strategic focus on instructional development, student learning and assessing student learning outcomes, 3) Assist in the assessment of our institutional impact on the intellectual, spiritual, and character development of our students, 4) Effectively utilize the results of assessment for ongoing strategic planning and improvement. To accomplish these objectives, CLEAR works with academic and co-curricular programs as they develop, schedule and implement effective program reviews, with faculty as they participate in development opportunities, and with departments as they assess student learning outcomes and teaching effectiveness. The Director of Instructional Services works along with the CLEAR office to support teaching and learning by maintaining a faculty lab with the most up-to-date computer workstations, offering assistance with graphic design and presentation development and servicing state-of-the-art technology-enhanced classrooms throughout the Biola campus. Distance Learning At its essence, distance learning is the design and delivery of an intentional learning experience to a student who is not physically present with the teacher. The course may be delivered either (1) entirely as a distance learning experience, known as a "full" distance learning course or simply a distance learning course, or (2) as a combination course conducted both on-site with the teacher and partially at a distance known as a "hybrid" distance learning course. To qualify as a hybrid course, a distance learning experience must only replace one or more physical classroom sessions. The objective of Biola's Distance Learning program is to leverage existing technologies to meet student needs for time and convenience and to create additional local and/or global opportunities for students to attend Biola University. The methods employed by the Distance Learning Program are expected to
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