Library renovations to meet
demand of modern society
By Nicole Arias
Staff
Writer
A student quickly walks to the check—out counter
in the Humanities, Social Science and Education Library as the clock
ticks past 10 p.m. on a Friday.
He says he wants to pick up the books he requested
the day before.
When he is told the library is closed and he will
have to get his books on Saturday, he throws his schoolbooks on the
floor.
In describing the book—throwing incident,
Sher-Ann Arroyo, one of the students working in the HSSE Library, said,
"He was mostly upset because he had to came back to campus on the weekend."
Since construction in the HSSE Library began late
last semester, student staff has had to retrieve books located on the
2nd and 3rd floors for patrons.
When students request books, they can either wait
while the staff finds them or get them the next day.
Arroyo, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts,
said that although some students get frustrated, most are understanding.
Monika Jedrzejek, a junior in the School of Liberal
Arts, said that when she requested a book, she had to wait about 10
minutes.
"It's not that big of a deal," she said. "I understand
that it's for the best in the long run."
According to Arroyo and others, the average wait
for several books is between 10 and 20 minutes.
The estimated completion date for the construction
on the 2nd and 3rd floors is November.
Construction on the 1st floor will begin in January
2002. During this time, the circulation and reference desks will be
located on the 3rd floor.
When the $4.6 million renovations are complete,
the library will reopen in the spring of 2003.
"With the increase of electronic resources, we
need to meet the needs of the modern user - the students," said
David Hovde, the HSSE reference coordinator. "We want to create
a facility that stimulates and inspires learning. The current environment
does not allow for that today as well as it has in the past."
Krystal Levai, a sophomore in the School of Liberal
Arts, agrees.
"I usually go to the Undergraduate Library because
it's more cozy and homey looking," she said. "No one wants to go to
a shabby—looking library."
When the construction is complete, the library
will have more study areas, new furniture and an entrance under the
mural. The art gallery will occupy the space that is the current entrance.
In addition, the 1st floor will have 44 Internet—accessible
public workstations; there are currently 13.
Levai said because there is usually a waiting line
for the computers in the library, she usually goes at 8:30 a.m. when
she wants to use one.
She said she will use HSSE more often because of
the additional computers and new renovations.
For current library information, go to: www2.lib.purdue.edu/ill/
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