What Support and Facilities Does the NC State University Libraries Offer Beyond Books?

The NC State University Libraries (lib.ncsu.edu) offers far more than book lending: teaching support, research and data services, digital media production, a makerspace, gaming and VR facilities, reservable rooms and devices, workshops and exhibits, plus real-time occupancy data for its main libraries. These services are aimed at the NC State University community and partners, and most are accessed through the library homepage's "Common Tasks" and support sections.

Teaching Support

Instructors can request library instruction, find tutorials, and get help with open educational resources (OER), copyright, and related topics. This is the entry point for faculty who want to integrate library resources or openly licensed materials into a course.

Research Support

The libraries support the whole research process, from data management to impact metrics. A concrete example from the library's news: its Research Facilitation Service helped ocean science researchers get more out of their data, illustrating how data management support extends beyond finding sources.

Data & Visualization

Collaboration spaces, computing resources, and support for data and visualization work are available. This suits projects that need shared workspace plus technical help with data analysis or visual presentation.

Digital Media Production and Makerspace

• Digital Media Production: create audio, music, video, and photography.
• Makerspace: use emerging technologies including prototyping kits and 3D printers.

These two areas cover both media creation and hands-on fabrication, so you can plan a project end to end—record or produce content, then build physical prototypes.

Gaming & VR

Graphics, gaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality resources are offered. Devices such as gaming consoles can be borrowed (see the separate "Borrow a Device" task on the homepage).

Spaces, Rooms, and Devices

The homepage groups these under "Common Tasks":

Real-time occupancy data is published by floor and space for the Hill Library and the Hunt Library, so you can check how busy each location is before heading over.

Events, Workshops, and Exhibits

The libraries run upcoming events, exhibits, and workshops. Examples listed on the homepage include an AI computer clinic, a screenwriting workshop ("Getting Started with Screenwriting"), an introduction to the IRB process at NC State, and a session on qualitative data for secondary analysis. Exhibits showcase special and unique collections and the work of NC State researchers, faculty, and students—for instance, "Reading the Natural World: Histories of Science on the Page" at the Hill Library Gallery and "Envisioning Research" on the Hunt Library Art Wall.

How to Use These Services

1. Start at the library homepage and scan the "Common Tasks" and "How can we help you?" sections.
2. Pick the area matching your need—assignment help, research support, teaching support, data and visualization, digital media production, makerspace, or gaming and VR.
3. For space or equipment, use Find a Space, Reserve a Room, or Borrow a Device; check real-time occupancy first if you want a quiet floor.
4. For questions, use Ask Us via email, chat, phone, or in person.

Note that the homepage does not state pricing or login requirements for these services; confirm eligibility and any access conditions with the libraries directly through Ask Us.