By Noah Neeley —
Miami Hamilton’s library offers more than just books. Study rooms, technology, textbooks, and research assistance can all be found on campus at a moment’s notice.
Rentschler Library in Hamilton is located on the second floor of Schwarm Hall, just up the stairs from the cafeteria. Recently, the library held an open house, with donuts and coffee, to welcome new and returning students. Over breakfast, the students got to know the library staff and learned about the services offered, all free of charge.
As with any good library, Rentschler offers a wide selection of books for visitors to peruse for research on just about any subject. For some courses, textbooks are on reserve and are available free of charge for use within the library. Other textbooks can be found on the shelves and checked out for up to three weeks for undergraduate students. The library also offers more casual reads, with a selection of New York Times bestsellers, as well as children’s books.
Beyond books, the library also offers technology for students to use, either in the library or for rental. The library is equipped with dozens of desktop computers free for student use, as well as laptops available to borrow for up to a week (two weeks for TRIO students.) For those who might be into media production, the library also offers cameras, voice recorders, a tripod, as well as a GoPro for a three day checkout. Printers are also available for use within the library, at a cost of 10 cents per sheet for black and white, and 25 cents per copy for color printing, paid using MUlaa.
Rentschler Library also serves as a meeting place for students who are looking to complete group projects or study together. Students can reserve one of five newly renovated study rooms for up to two hours. Each study room has different utilities, with two of the rooms including televisions for working on digital projects, and three rooms having whiteboards. In addition to the group study rooms, there are seven individual study rooms that can be used with no reservation and no time limit.
A group study room with a TV and table
An individual study room with a small desk and chair
The library goes beyond being just a resource for media and technology, as the librarians urge students to consult them for help researching. The library is staffed by librarians with Masters degrees who are highly qualified to assist students with research. Appointments for 30-minute research sessions can be made using Rentschler Library’s website (see below).
If the Rentschler Library doesn’t have something you’re looking for, another library might. Through OhioLINK, Rentschler Library and over 100 other libraries pool their resources to allow students across the state to borrow books from locations in which they don’t ordinarily have access. Books borrowed through OhioLINK also have the standard three-week checkout time, and are typically delivered within a week of being requested.
Rentschler Library is open from 8-5 during days when the campus is open. Study rooms can only be reserved during library hours. For more information about Rentschler Library, visit https://www.ham.miamioh.edu/library/