LITC develops areas for study, group space

Photogallery: The Library and Instructional Technology Center is always reshaping itself to accommodate students. Last summer the majority of the Reference Collection, on the second floor, was relocated to the Circulating Collection. And in its place, tables and new, trial furniture was added. 

Revamping the second floor is a work in progress, and will likely continue to change, but these adjustments are not the only ones taking place within the LITC.

Marilyn Ferrell | gcsunade.com

Last spring, the LITC asked the student body about what they thought was lacking in the library.

The most received response was the need for more study rooms. And, over the summer, the LITC enclosed all of the open alcoves to create more study rooms.

Yet, only seven new rooms were created and with study rooms always in demand, this number was not enough to accommodate students

The design of the LITC building doesn’t lend it itself to much space for addition. While wanting to provide students with more study room space, but also being able to work within the parameters of the building’s layout, the study pods were the best option.

“We looked into other alternatives, and the easiest thing we could see was something like the study pods,” Kell Carpenter said.

Yet, the pods are not rooms, as they are not fully enclosed, and have windows on both sides. Often, it can be distracting hearing or seeing other students through them, as feedback indicated, according to Carpenter.

But, they are meant to provide students with a semi-private experience. And, since they are located within an already designated quiet zone, noise should, theoretically, not be a problem.

“I think it’s good because it’s a small space. You’re alone, quiet and it’s easier to concentrate,” said Sean Liu, accounting graduate student.

The pods can house up to two students comfortably, and the LITC has tried to ensure two chairs are in each pod at all times.

“I think they work, if you’re one person,” said Danielle Cline, MAT graduate student.

Yet, currently the pods do not receive power. And, the LITC has found, from feedback from students, this needs to change.

“We’re hopeful that very soon they’ll be fully capable for the power,”  Carpenter said.

And while the power operation is being remedied, the LITC is working on another renovation: whiteboard space. Though mostly all of the enclosed study rooms already have a whiteboard in them, the plan is to create more space.

“Were going to try to go in each of the regular study rooms and put in a whiteboard wall,” Carpenter said. “Paint a wall with whiteboard paint.”

And the study pods aren’t exempt from this whiteboard makeover either, as the LITC hopes adding them will decrease perceptible distractions the pods have.

“We’re always looking for ways to provide what students want,” Carpenter said.

By midterm, the LITC hopes to have board games ready to be checked out for students to take study breaks and relieve themselves of stress. But, once the games are available, they will be there for checkout at anytime.

Posted by Nick Widener on Jan 26 2012. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.