While the Information Commons in Olin Library is already a popular study area for students who need to use computers or print their readings, the library’s staff is actively working on further improving Olin’s technology resources.
Tentative plans call for an expanded Information Commons and computers in other parts of the library.
“We would like to expand the same set-up and put greater numbers of computers on the other side of [the ground floor],” said Head of Reference Diane Klare.
The current Info Commons space will be used as a model for these plans.
“While some technology may be placed in other areas of Olin, we are still focused on expanding the current Info Commons prototype,” said University Librarian Barbara Jones.
The Info Commons currently offers a wide range of easily accessible features, including high-end computers, the Student Academic Resource Network, writing assistance, ITS, and a reference librarian.
“Our statistics and our observation that the Info Commons fills up more quickly than any other part of the reference area tells us that we are being successful,” Jones said.
Further proposals include the creation of small study rooms on other floors of Olin, large enough to accommodate three to four people plus a computer.
Kate Zyskowski ’08 supported the idea of computer-equipped study rooms.
“There should be Macs in the fourth floor mini-classrooms,” she said.
With plans still in the early stages, the library staff is busy studying different options in order to develop the best possible set-up. To this end, they are currently undertaking a study of student lab use.
“We are now being trained in ethnographic techniques so that we can observe how students use library and ITS spaces,” Jones said.
So far the library staff has studied the habits of three students in depth. The students were given a campus map in order to track which buildings they visited during the day and for how long. Students were also instructed to take a picture of their favorite part of the library, and to draw their ideal study space on a sheet of paper.
“[We are now] synthesizing this information,” Klare said. “It is a bottom-up process, rather than a top-down process. [It is] a demand-driven or suggestion-driven type of change.”
While the staff is visiting libraries on other campuses, Jones also emphasized the library’s commitment to receiving student feedback.
“We can thus design future spaces not how we think they should be, but how students want them and use them,” she said. “[The Info Commons] has a moveable future so that we can redesign when students tell us they want a different type of space.”
Some students would rather not see the expansion of technology take over other parts of the library.
“I kind of like that there are only those single computers up there [on the second and third floors]. It makes it less congested,” said Raffi Stern ’08.
Although the library is working hard on plans, it is unlikely that any major changes will be seen within a few years. The biggest obstacle is funding, since the library lacks the money to implement all the changes it would like to make immediately.
Klare prefers to frame the limited funding in a positive way.
“The long-term time horizon allows for feedback from students,” Klare said.
Another impediment is the structure of the Olin building. Concrete floors and old-style architecture make running wire more difficult and expensive.
Nevertheless, as these plans are realized, Olin will continue working on expanding technology and seeking out student feedback.
“[In the 21st century, libraries are] not just about the books,” Jones said.
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