The Libra-Teria, the invasive body?

As the campus library is prepared for renovations, half of the cafeteria has been taken to serve as temporary library while the work is done, upsetting many students in the process. As the cafeteria side maintains it’s traditional role as “social hub”, where students eat and unwind, the other has transformed into the “Libra-Teria”, the current campus library. While a combined library and cafeteria may not seem like the best option, it turns out to be the only option.

“I don’t like it here, it is too noisy and small,” said student Marissa Raya, “but I try to ignore the other side the best I can.”

Another student, Robert Bond, during his first time in the library said he didn’t mind the noise, but only because he hadn’t been in the library for long. The one thing on all of the students minds was why the library couldn’t have been placed in a different location.

Librarian Elena Heilman said that there really was no other ideal location to house the computer lab and the books for checkout. When asking the students what their ideal location for the library would be if they could choose, after being given the information that Heilman had provided, the students admitted that there really wasn’t any other location for the library, realizing that the library is just as important as a social playground for technology.

After hearing that students were going to protest for more outlets, or at least a solution to the outlet shortage, Martha Mills, Dean of the Library, and Heilman agreed that a solution does need to be made and should have been sought before the transition occurred.  Mills stated that the students need a long term solution for their needs, thinking they could create a survey examining the growing need for power in schools by logging the increase of students with laptops or other forms of technology. In her years working as Dean, Mills has noticed that as years pass, use of computers in the computer lab has decreased. “What once we had a 45min. waiting period for a computer to open up, now that is no longer the case.” After seeing the recent trend of technology Mills thinks that, yes, there should be more power in the schools to accommodate those students who bring their devices.

At the beginning of the school year, after seeing what has happened to the cafeteria, a group of students took it upon themselves to do something about the intrusion. Rachelle Monroe, one of the students who organized the protest, decided to enlist the aid of other students and connect as many power cords as possible to make their plight known. When asked about what her protest is about she had this to say: “The protest is mainly trying to point out how many students bring laptops into the cafeteria to study or do things in their time out of class.”

Although the question now remains, will the issue be resolved as soon as possible knowing that the library will be here for another good 2 years, the students seem a little worried but know that there will be a solution, lest the students decide to  increase the degree of protest to get their words heard.

Kevin Trutna, Yuba College’s Vice president of Academic and Student Services, is working on a solution. Since the library was introduced into the cafeteria he has been examining how much power the is needed to accommodate the students and their devices. Apparently he has been doing this since the library was introduced into the cafeteria.

Heilman said starting on October 23 work will start on giving the back wall more power and power outlets to the students in and outside the Libra-Teria.

Renovations have been made as of the 23rd of September to the center wall between the cafeteria and the Library. Students are now able to plug into the wall without having to risk a power surge or any accidental tripping of other peers or Employees.

Students are relieved that changes were made to accommodate their needs in this new eating-learning Symbiosis of an environment.

 

This article appears in the Fall 2011 print edition of The Prospector.