Department of Theatre and Dance opens library
The Troy University Department of Theatre and Dance officially opened their departmental library on Sept. 2.
The library is open to all students and features a variety of reading materials relevant to the department, including musicals, plays, history, theatre education and more.
Mia Schuler, a junior theatre education major from Foley, Alabama, is one of the library’s two librarians. She shared what inspired the creation of this library.
“We wanted people to have a place to come that had physical media,” Schuler said. “Some things online are just not the same as flipping through a book or finding an actual play, so we wanted to have that option for our students.”
While small, the library functions like a traditional library where students can check out books through the librarian who will keep up with the checkout date and the student’s contact information.
David Miller, a senior theatre major from Ozark, Alabama, shared his thoughts on the library.
“This is an amazing opportunity for anyone who has a love and passion for theatre to just have a lot of opportunities to have plays at the palm of their hand and not have to pay for it,” Miller said. “As college students, it’s kind of hard to come across money sometimes, and this is a perfect opportunity for people who may not have that kind of access to be able to buy plays like that.”
Schuler also believes students should take advantage of the free resources available at the library.
“It’s small, but it’s homey, and it’s free,” Schuler said. “There’s not enough free resources anymore, so come use a free resource.”
India Wilson, a sophomore theatre education major from Hoover, Alabama, believes the library’s resources not only benefit theatre and dance majors, but all students.
“It encourages students, especially theatre education majors, to come in and see theatre education books and musical books because it’s good to experience it, but it also opens up a little community for other people to come in and get a glimpse of what we’re learning and doing,” Wilson said. “I think people could even go to the Troy library and put posters up to say, ‘oh, there’s also a library specifically for theatre,’ and I think this puts us forward and makes us more of a department than we already are.”
Wilson also shared that having the library and its resources will help keep her accountable.
“I really like it,” Wilson said. “I think it inspires me and motivates me because I have a problem with reading, and I think it keeps me accountable.”
Schuler discussed hopes of growing the library and the community it creates.
“I think it’ll provide so many resources and ideas and just a place of connection for our students,” Schuler said. “It definitely could be a place to come in and get to know some information but also meet new people.
“I hope it becomes a busy place, gets traction and that people are wanting to come in here, learn more and involve themselves in their art form.”
The Theatre and Dance Library is located in Wright Hall 112G and is open on Monday and Wednesday from 4-6 pm.
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