My Library Is... Supporting Multi-Modal Student Projects

At Rockford University we know that student research and expression can take many forms – sometimes written, sometimes visual, and increasingly, spoken or recorded. That’s why we’re excited to announce a brand-new creative space opening in Fall 2025: The Audio Lab @ Howard Colman Library. This space is a dedicated recording studio designed to support student voice, creativity, and collaboration that was made possible through generous funding through the RAILS My Library Is... Grant.  

The Audio Lab is a soundproofed, tech-enabled room that will be available to students, faculty, and staff at RU by reservation. The private space features a computer with professional microphones, and additional equipment will be available for checkout for students who want to work elsewhere on campus, or on-the-go – from microphones to webcams to lighting kits, there’s something for every student who wants to put a creative spin on their assignment! 

At RU, over half of our student body is Pell Grant-eligible, and students who are already burdened by the mounting costs of higher education likely do not have the means to purchase equipment on their own. We believe that equitable access to these creative tools is essential to student success, particularly as our curriculum evolves to incorporate multi-modal projects.  

In addition to student use, The Audio Lab will also support an emerging initiative to collect and preserve oral histories from alumni, retired faculty and staff, and members of the broader RU community. These stories will contribute to a richer, more inclusive understanding of our university’s history and the people who have shaped it.  

While the library has long-term goals for a renovation that will include multiple permanent sound booths, this grant-funded project allowed us to move forward right away and offer equipment to students taking a Rhetoric of Recorded Sound class in the Spring 2025 semester. A former storage room has since been retrofitted with removable soundproof panels and will now serve as a functional audio studio space. It’s a creative and practical DIY solution that will allow us to pilot this new service and learn from our community’s use of the space and equipment.  

This summer, we’ll be busy training library staff, developing how-to materials, and working with faculty to boost awareness of these new services as they plan their fall courses. We’ll also determine ways to solicit feedback from those using the space so we can make adjustments and improvements based on community use and needs. We envision the space as more than just a soundproofed room with a mic – it’s a platform for creativity, access, and voice. 

We’re incredibly grateful to the My Library Is... Grant and to RAILS for supporting this project. The Audio Lab @ Howard Colman Library will empower students to explore new forms of expression, alumni to share their stories, and the library to continue evolving as a vibrant, inclusive hub for learning and storytelling at Rockford University.  

This week’s blog post was written by Stephanie Nissen, Library Director at Howard Colman Library, Rockford University. 

This project was made possible by a My Library Is... Grant.