The library introduced a newly designed main floor at the beginning of the fall semester. To accommodate students , the library decided to remove some computers (pictured above) (UdeshI Seneviratne/photo editor).
Milne Library unveiled summer renovations intended to increase student seating space. The altered layout has received criticism from some library patrons.
The changes include brand new furniture for expanded seating options, replaced carpeting, tables with power outlets for students to reduce their use of extension cords and fewer cubicle walls on the main floor, according to Library Director Ben Rawlins.
“We shifted around a lot of staff to different areas and tore a lot of the cubicle walls down with the idea to create more student space,” Rawlins said. “We’ve been able to add a little over 100 additional seats for student study space downstairs.”
The changes come after a year of discussion and planning, as well as consideration for student input and recommendations, according to Milne Business Manager Ryann Lindsay.
“Part of the main floor update was trying to address and meet ome other requests and needs that we’ve been hearing for the last several years,” Lindsay said. “Students in the building have always wanted a variety of spaces so we tried to bring in more of each kind of space.”
Beyond adding more student seating, the library also reduced the number of computers available for use on its main floor from 40 to about 16 after analyzing usage stats with Computer and Information Technology, according to Rawlins.
Discussion centered around the renovation included suggestions presented by students, according to Rawlins.
Student input prior to the renovations was processed through various platforms including emails, formal surveys, and student discussions with library personnel, Lindsay said.
In conjunction with the available feedback, Rawlins and Lindsay spent time observing usage patterns around the library.
“We spent a good amount of time watching how our existing spaces had been used,” Lindsay said. “When we laid out the main floor and increased the number of seats, we did so pretty intentionally, hoping to cut down on obstacles in walkways or seats going unused or power cords being draped across walk areas.”
Students have had mixed reactions to these changes. Some are concerned over the lack of sufficient table space, specifically psychology major junior Mai Ngo.
“I think it looks nice, visually good, but I’m just concerned because there are fewer tables and our point is to sit down and study,” Ngo said. “I actually like last year better because there was more space to put down your computer and study.”
Other students felt that the changed layout was impractical for a library, especially psychology major senior Adnan Ahmad.
“I think it’d be cool if this was for a lounge but it’s not. I wish there were more tables, more seating space,” Ahmad said. “I just wish they put more tables down instead of this kind of furniture. It looks aesthetically nice, but I don’t think it’s practical for a library.”
Library patrons, like chemistry major sophomore Yumna Ismail, observed that the environment was more open and visually appealing, but not effective for studying
“It looks more spacious and it feels more spacious … but to sit and write we need tables,” Ismail said. “It’s mostly seating instead of tables.”
Some students, like mathematics major junior Mohamed Moctar, welcomed the new changes, commenting on the appealing aesthetic.
“It just looks more welcoming and not as depressing as it used to,” Moctar said.
The process to institute the changes went through multiple steps, starting with relocating library personnel to other sections of the library to clear out more sections of the main floor, according to Rawlins.
“The library is really busy, so we wanted to make sure that we had the seats available for students,” Rawlins said. “It was identifying where we can make the biggest impact and working with different vendors.”
The library is looking toward better ways to utilize the available space and accommodate student needs, according to Rawlins.
“I’m hoping that we’ve been able to give people what they’ve been asking for, that people get better study space, more individual space, more comfortable seating, more table seating,” Lindsay said. “I’m hoping that we’ve met some of the needs that have been presented to us.”