The newly remodeled Northwest Vista College (NVC) Library now houses exclusive spaces for students who are parents with the Family Study Room and the Vista Veterans Library.
These rooms allow for students to study and socialize with other students who have similar experiences, responsibilities, and needs.
The latest addition is the Family Study Room, designed for NVC students with young children. The room offers a quiet, private area for students to study while caring for their children.
NVC Librarian Angela Bilbe, who was herself a parent in college, is excited to announce the new library service.
“There is a stigma when it comes to young parents bringing children to the library,” said Bible. “We want to create a safe, welcoming space for all students. I want parents to feel encouraged to study in the library, and to empower parents to utilize the library resources and show their children the wonders of learning and the library.”
The Family Study Room includes an adult-sized table, a child-sized Lego table, toys, puzzles, and games, along with age-appropriate books curated by the NVC librarians. There is also space for a stroller or baby carrier.
The increased attention in students who are parents comes from recent data showing that the overall number of NVC students who are parents has risen from 11.3% in fall 2020 to 15.7% in Spring 2023.
In mid-March, the Northwest Vista College Library opened the Vista Veterans Library providing veterans with a quiet place within the library to study and collaborate with other veterans. It houses a collection of materials appropriate to veteran topics.
During the 2022/2023 academic year almost 1,500 students who are veterans or veteran dependents were serviced by the NVC Veterans Center, which helps veterans, current military members, and dependent students get information regarding eligibility, educational benefits coverage, certification of courses, and submissions to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Vista Veterans Library is where multigenerational veterans can come together to find the camaraderie and fellowship that they were accustomed to while serving in the military, said NVC Librarian Rosemarie Rodriguez.
One such support for veterans comes from the Veterans Writing Program which uses a zine format – self-published magazines with small circulations, often housed on the web. The student veterans share stories about their experiences before, during, and post-military.
Both areas are located in the library, on the first floor of the Redbud Learning Center (RLC). The rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis and the Family Study Room will prioritize users accompanied by children.
The recent NVC Library facelift also includes new furnishings, flooring, and paint.
NVC President Dr. Amy Bosley believes that the library is one of the most inviting spaces for students on campus. “Northwest Vista College is committed to providing support and resources to all students for their academic, career, and lifelong success,” she said.
