Library trends before and after completion
Shannon O’Brien and Derek Torrellas – Special to the Southern News, Photo Editor
Students appeared to crowd the renovated section of the Hilton C. Buley Library more than they ever did before, according to Wendy Hardenberg, reference librarian.
Most chairs, computers, and couches are taken during all hours of the day on the newly completed side of the library. But are students going there to study, or are they there for the social setting? Watch the video below to see the first part of reactions and utilization by students.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzsSm4oM0ok]
Students reactions tended to be positive about the completion of the Buley Library. Both Eric Lee, senior marketing major and Seimou Smith, freshman public health major, complemented the larger space that the renovation added onto the library. One student worker assigned to a help desk is Brittany Muldowney, a sophomore psychology major.
“Before,” she said, “no one was able to find our desk because it was all the way in the back of the library, and now we’re in the front so people can actually use us as they need.”
A survey about library usage with 36 respondents (follow this link to see full results)showed that there is an increase in the frequency of visits to the library. However, data from the small sample size does not show any significant changes in the reasons why students have been going to Buley.
The lower level is filled with a plethora of mac computers lined up between the main hallway and the room adorned with stained-glass windows. Janine Savoie, senior liberal studies major, said she enjoys the expanded resources offered for students, including the power outlets at every table.
Aside from the technological infrastructure, students were in equal appreciation of the simpler things: comfort. Jazzminda Acevedo, freshman marketing major, said the comfy chairs make the students more relaxed and happy to be there.
Senior economics major Eduardo Guardado found that the quietness mixed with the former church windows reminded him of his youth at a catholic school.
“I found it a little bit weird to get used to,” Guardado said, “but then you appreciate just the art.”
Others, like Hunter Watford, senior psychology major, were more ambivalent about any changes in how he used the library.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6T9AZ5HUYk&w=560&h=315]
“ I wouldn’t say that I use the library any more or less, but the new library makes me feel like coming here more because I know they spent the money,” Watford said. He knew that a lot of money was involved in the renovation, but other students had varying ideas of the cost.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zd0Y2yXoNg&w=560&h=315]
Nicole Yacobacci, junior psychology major, said she continues to sit at the old library because she feels the new library is more of a social setting. Likewise, Elizabeth McKinley said she looked at, but didn’t stay in the newly opened section. The junior history major said her reluctance came from not wanting to be around people “who had never been to a library before.”
Most students commented that the new library areas were quiet. With all the attention on the recent completion there however, the side of the library now called the “old library” was markedly quieter when students provided their comments for this story’s slideshow.
See how the library’s ribbon cutting unfolded by an aggregation of live tweets.
Watch this Instagram video.
