Jerry Falwell Library celebrates 10 years

The Jerry Falwell Library opened Jan. 15, 2014, and the campus has recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its current building. The library is central to Liberty University for students to find a quiet atmosphere to study, with the purpose and mission to serve students by providing them with the necessary materials to achieve their academic goals.

Whether a student needs access to a computer in the computer lab or a quiet study room to prepare for an exam, the JFL has it.

The head of communication and outreach for the library, Cindy Schmidt, believes one of the best things about the library is how special the people are.

“The people in the library truly care about the students, and we make every effort to go above and beyond to find out what they need from the library and how we can best meet those needs within the realm of what we do as a library,” Schmidt said. “And we really embrace a strong customer service philosophy throughout the library organization.”

The JFL has changed in the last 10 years and has many differences compared with the previous location, now the School of Education in DeMoss Hall.

Some of the differences between the old location and their current building relate to the increase of natural light.

“I think that really makes a big difference to students when they are trying to be inspired and study and focus, and that was the one thing we heard from them — … the natural light,” Schmidt said. “We have over 80 thousand square feet of interior and exterior glass on this building.”

Additionally, the library has 400 added outlets for devices, different levels to provide the quiet atmosphere for students to study, study rooms — an increase to 3.1 million total resources as of 2024 — and the Customer Service Center.

“We are constantly listening to students, faculty and staff on what they need,” Schmidt said.

One of the ways the team at the library tries to meet the students’ needs is through their Beyond Books collection. Schmidt said this collection has practical items that students might need, such as jumper cables for a car, tools and a clothing iron. The collection also provides activities for students like board games, outdoor equipment and recreational reading options to support students beyond their academic interests.

As the JFL continues to grow, there are many future events coming up for students to enjoy.

“The best part of hosting library events is getting to interact and engage with the students,” Schmidt said. “We really want them to feel that this is their library.

There are some pop-up library events coming up in February, March and April.   

“You can actually walk up and check out any of the things we have on display,” Schmidt said.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14, the library will also be having a Valentine’s Day display with candy and hot chocolate. On Tuesday, March 5, the library will host a game night from 5-7 p.m., where students can play games with other students and check games out from the Beyond Books collection. 

“It’s just a fun way to have some social time with students and take a little bit of a study break,” Schmidt said.

Zion Barrett and Allan Weaver each appreciate the Jerry Falwell Library for the study atmosphere and quiet environment.

“The study rooms the library makes available (have) helped my academic life thrive greatly,” Barrett said. “Not only have I been able to grow close with classmates by utilizing the rooms, but my grades have skyrocketed because of (them) as well.”

Weaver appreciates the deep quiet spaces that the library provides.

“It’s such a unique place that I have never seen offered anywhere else,” Weaver said. “It’s great to still be around others but with a quiet, study-focused environment.”

To learn more about the JFL’s history, future events and resources, visit their website.     

Sean Sanford is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion