Construction in D.H. Hill Library’s east wing will continue throughout the spring semester and some students believe it is causing a problem for them in finding uncrowded areas to study.
“The information commons area, located on the first floor, is presently scheduled to be turned over to the University around Feb 23, 2007,” Ken Butler, assistant director of construction management, said. “What that means is the University will then be able to move equipment and resources into the area.”
The official student opening is not scheduled until mid-March, but many students are finding it hard to cope with the space currently available.
With the semester coming to an end, finals looming on the horizon for students and renovations still not complete on D. H. Hill Library’s east wing, the lack of study space has become an increasing problem for students.
Bhagirath Patel, a freshman in First Year College, said on many occasions the current work areas in the library have failed to meet her needs.
“With the finals coming around, during peak hours this library is filled and you can’t find a table,” said Patel. “You end up going elsewhere to study.”
Amandeep Singh, a senior in electrical engineering, also expressed indignation about the overcrowding he has seen in the library, adding that the library offers few places where students can go to just relax.
“There are a lot of students that come to the library and we need more space,” said Singh. “Sometimes I just come here to hang out and there is nowhere to go.”
Laura Dickey, a sophomore in international studies, said she often likes to meet with friends in a specific spot to study, but the overcapacity of the library makes this impossible.
“Most of the time, there is a primary location you like to go to do your work,” said Dickey. “The downstairs locations are always filled up and the upstairs are too secluded.”
May Naji, a junior in biological sciences, said she has often found it difficult to find a library computer that meets her needs.
“I don’t like the main computers on [the ground] floor because you can’t use Microsoft programs like Excel, and you often can’t view PowerPoint presentations or download e-mail attachments,” said Naji. “There is not always a spot in the second-floor unity lab that I can use.”
Like Dickey, Naji said she has also had difficulty finding a good spot to meet with classmates and friends in the library.
“You don’t always find a good spot to study downstairs unless you come early,” said Naji “When I am meeting here with a group, it is often too noisy or too crowded to meet.”
Jiten Patel, a freshman in political science, said in group spaces it is often too loud to get any work done.
“There are a lot of students here, and I don’t feel I have the space I deserve,” said Patel. “I’m paying a lot of money to go here.”
Butler said the construction is already complete for the Special Collections Research Center and administrative offices on the second and third floors.
“No additional delays are anticipated,” Butler said.