New library plans presented to ASUSU
As construction continues on the new library facility on campus, library administrators are trying to build anticipation by presenting information on the facility to students.
Vice President for Libraries and Instructional Support Linda Wolcott and Associate Director for Public Services John Elsweiler updated the Associated Students of Utah State University on the plans for the yet-to-be-named library Tuesday.
Wolcott was greeted by some “oohs and aahs” from council members after naming some features of the new library.
She said the new library would allow the existing Sci-Tech Library to be joined with the new facility to create one large library. Features include a multipurpose room for student and community use, a multi-level atrium reaching from the second floor to the basement and an expanded café.
“They [Facilities] are going to try and get a couple of franchises in there,” Wolcott said.
Einstein’s Bagels is the example of a franchise that might be found in the new café.
Wolcott said there will also be changes to the concept of the reference desk.
“We’re trying a unique concept,” she said. “It’s the blending of the reference services and the computer lab. It’s sort of one-stop shopping.”
Students will find 150 computers on the first floor of the library. That would be the most computers in a single location on campus, as the Taggart Student Center computer lab has 89 computers, and the Merrill Library has 83.
On the first floor, students will be able to walk right up to a computer and begin using it instead of having to have their student ID swiped by a lab attendant. Wolcott said there would be a username and password interface on the computers to restrict their use to students.
Wolcott said the first floor of the library will be a vibrant, active area with a lot of student interaction. For students seeking to use computers in a more quiet setting, Elsweiler said the computer lab in the basement of the Sci-Tech would still be available for use.
The building, scheduled for completion in the fall of 2005, will also have seven classrooms, 30 group study rooms and the automated storage retrieval system to store seldom-used volumes of information in a compact fashion.
Wolcott said the group study rooms will be smaller than the fishbowl rooms found in the Merrill Library, but would be much better for students.
Students would also find multimedia rooms where students could go to use multimedia software to put together electronic portfolios, PowerPoint presentations or videos for projects and get help from someone working there.
While the future holds many features in the library that students will find very useful, Elsweiler told ASUSU that there are some new features in the two USU libraries now that students can utilize.
He said both the Merrill and Sci-Tech libraries have three laptop computers available for students to check out for a three-hour period. All of the laptops are wireless Internet-enabled and can be used to access the Internet wirelessly in both facilities, as both libraries have wireless Internet hubs now.
For students who already own laptop computers, Elsweiler said students can check out wireless Internet cards to insert in their computer, free of charge. When using either the laptops or the wireless cards, students are asked to fill out two forms and provide two forms of identification. He said a $6 late fee is charged if items are kept longer than the allowed three-hour period.
Behind closed doors
After the ASUSU Executive Council meeting, the council entered into an executive session for the second time during this school year.
The meeting, closed to the media and the public, was closed illegally according to the Utah Open and Public Meeting Act.
“I’m just extremely concerned when anyone closes a meeting and it’s not clearly stated why,” said Leticia Neal, a senior history and philosophy major.
Neal has attended every ASUSU meeting this year.
According to the Public Meeting Act, a governing body must vote in a public meeting before holding a closed session and must reach a two-thirds majority in that vote.
Notice of the closed meeting must then be posted at least 24 hours in advance.
The law states there are a limited number of reasons why a public meeting can be closed. Reasons include discussion of personnel and discussions relating to the purchase or sale of real estate.
Boot-scootin’ boogie
Activities Vice President Tara Bradshaw said ASUSU has obtained 500 tickets to the Brooks & Dunn concert scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Spectrum. The tickets were distributed for ASUSU committee members and lucky students around campus will have opportunities over the next two days to get tickets, Bradshaw said.
The great pumpkin shootout
College of Agriculture Senator Milo Andrus invited students to attend the Pumpkin Challenge, Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Tower Field.
USU students who have created catapults and other methods of launching pumpkins great distances will compete to see who can project their squash the farthest.
-str@cc.usu.edu