[483] Library Dean Reflects On Nearly Four Decades At MTSU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

LIBRARY DEAN REFLECTS ON NEARLY FOUR DECADES AT MTSU
MTSU’s Don Craig Turns the Page and Writes New Chapter in His Life

(MURFREESBORO) – When J. Donald Craig arrived on the MTSU campus in 1972, the university’s library had just over 200,000 books. As the dean of the James E. Walker Library prepares to retire June 30 after 38 years of service, the library has more than 800,000 printed books and 300,000 electronic books.
Of course, numbers don’t tell the whole story of the changes both Don Craig and the library have experienced throughout his MTSU career. The very advent of electronic formats has irrevocably altered the dynamics of library management. But, despite the inaccurate and now passé reputation of libraries as stagnant, musty and dusty places, Craig will tell you that change is an inescapable part of being a librarian.
“Where you might find in some industries or situations a lot of resistance to change, I really think that in our case, we’ve been running toward it and welcoming it,” says Craig.
The digital revolution has changed not only how students learn, but where they learn, as well. Availability of study materials in cyberspace has facilitated off-campus and at-home learning.
“The availability of reference materials, especially online, has been a real benefit to our students that are off-campus, distance education students,” says Craig.
With students spending so much time in cyberspace, do they have less reason to spend time at the library?
“While you might think that the number of people coming in the library would have declined with the availability of electronic materials, we have not seen that decline happen,” Craig observes. “We continue to have in excess of 800,000 visits to the library each year.”
Craig attributes the continuing flow of library patrons to collaborative learning, which he says has increased a great deal over the decades. It seems that there is still no substitute for face-to-face contact and discussion.
When the library was in the Todd building, there was 90,000 square feet of usable space available. The Walker Library, which opened in 1999, has 170,000 square feet of usable space and different types of study environments, including about 40 spaces where four to 12 students can work together without disturbing others.
Group study dates aren’t the only reasons to visit the library in person. Technological changes bring technological challenges. Students might need help with the electronic indexes and abstracts.

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“In the ‘70s, most students who were doing any kind of research, at least the undergraduates, would have been using the readers’ guide, the periodical literature, as their basic finding tool,” Craig says. “The upperclassmen were probably getting into the business or scientific periodicals index. Now there are so many sources of information available to students that they do need more help finding things.”
It takes special staffers who appreciate young people and are patient with them to guide them to the proper materials. Craig has high praise for the employees who have worked under his supervision.
“We’ve had many staff members who’ve actually finished their degrees here, and we’ve had ones that have actually one on to become professional librarians and work in other places,” says Craig.
He won’t be very far away during his retirement years. Aside from maintaining a classic 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and excursions around the country with Connie, his wife of 42 years, Craig says the university will still be a big part of his life.
“I hope to remain in Murfreesboro,” says Craig. “My family’s here. My grandchildren are here. I think a university town is the best possible place to live because of the many cultural activities the university offers along with athletics.”



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Name: James Donald Craig;
Birthplace: Nashville, Tenn.;
Titles: Associate Professor; Dean, James E. Walker Library;
Education: B.A., 1967, David Lipscomb College; M.L.S., 1968, George Peabody College;
Memberships: Mid-State Library Association (co-founder); Tennessee Library Association (former president); Phi Kappa Phi honor society;
Family: wife Connie; sons Jeff and Jimmy; grandchildren Hailee, Hayden, Carter.


With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.