Library Rolls Out Changes: Will Enforce Quiet Policy, Allow Laptop Checkout

Silence More Strictly Enforced The library is a place for students to collaborate socially with friends, unwind, eat, and most of all, study. Students being able to study without any noise interference or distraction is very important and has been seriously considered after reviewing the most recent library survey. In the “2015-2016 Library Assessment: Contributions of CSU Libraries to Student Success,” multiple students reported consistently being disturbed by noisy groups throughout the entire library, even in quiet zones. In response, the library is cracking down on noise levels. After the first offense, a librarian will politely ask you to quiet down. After the second offense, a librarian will ask you to be quiet again and will hand you a copy of the noise level policy. After a third offense, a librarian will ask you to leave the library for the remainder of the day. Although the library is striving to be conducive to students’ study needs, that does not mean it has to be extremely quiet all periods of the day and the library acknowledges that. In fact, a student from the survey said, “I wouldn’t want to see the library become a place with no food, no drinks, no socializing. I think it’s good to have a place where people can come and feel comfortable.” The library sees lunch time, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as an admissible “noisy period” where students are allowed to eat, socialize, and travel to and from Einstein’s on the first floor. During this period of the day, the library understands that the flow of traffic will pick up, as will the noise. Paula Adams, the head of reference services, said that “We are not going for the monastery effect [complete silence] here,” said Paula Adams, the head of Reference Services. “We just want people to use their inside voices.” Students Can Now Check Out 24-Hour Laptops On Feb. 20, 2017, the library received 100 new laptops that are now available for 24-hour checkouts. Purchased with student technology fees, this laptop option is open to university students, faculty, and staff. With this new policy, students have more freedom to maneuver through campus doing assignments whenever and wherever they deem necessary. Before the 24-hour laptops, the library only allowed students to check out laptops for three hours and for use only in the library. This new feature is in response to the patron usage patterns that the library observed, where students would ask to take their laptop to class, or to bring it back the next day. The library also noticed that while it is almost impossible to complete coursework without technology, some students may not have complete or partial access to laptops. “We are here to accommodate the students,” said Adams. Now, students can come to the library, check out a laptop, and take it to their apartments, their dorms, classes, or even to the café, and return it the next day.

Chat With A Librarian Are you a military student? International student? Full-time parent with a full-time job? Graduate or undergraduate student with little time to meet a librarian in person? Students can contact librarians for real-time help from anywhere. This feature is technically referred to as Virtual Reference Service or Virtual Research Assistance, but in its true nature, it is a quick way to get help from the library, whether it’s finding research articles on Galileo or even instructions on how to work GIL Express. Tutoring Is Now In Library The Academic Center for Tutoring (ACT) is now tutoring students inside the library. Tutoring takes place from 6:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the library. Appointments can be made through the “EAB” link that you can access from your “MyCSU” account. Walk-ins are welcomed too. Be aware not all subjects are tutored each day. Visit the ACT website for more information: act.columbusstate.edu Have A Library Suggestion For Finals Weeks? The library is accepting any suggestions concerning how they can accommodate students throughout finals week. Whether it’s a petition to keep Einstein’s open longer or a collaborative event between the library and SGA, be sure to contact a librarian and make your voice heard.