The new Kistle Science library, with its graffiti-free walls and new-building smell, is a pleasant study environment for anyone looking to clear their head. Kistle opened at the start of this year, a welcomed improvement from the cramped fourth floor of Burling that until previously had been masquerading as a science library. As students adjust to studying and researching in the new space, concerns about the availability of the library and access to resources prompted library administrators last Thursday to extend the hours of operation.
Located on the second floor on the recently completed Phase II section of Noyce, the science library attempts to provide a welcoming study atmosphere for all students. In addition to scientific reference books, journals, and periodicals, facilities include study carrels, meeting rooms, a photocopier, printer and scanner and 13 dual-boot computers. For some students, this attention to creating a comfortable study space is a welcome alternative to Burling Library. “It’s a lot closer to where I live,” said Anna McCoy ’10 ,who comes to the library every day after class. “I’m pretty much here until it closes.”
“Burling’s far, there’s no lighting and it’s ugly,” added Laura Garcia ’11.
Student complaints about timing, however, convinced administrators to extend the closing times from Sunday through Thursday to midnight. “I think they’re aware of student complaints and they really try hard to address them,” said student sibrarian Rosemarie Offord ’08. “Extending hours during critical study weeks would be nice.”
Still, most students want even more time, especially during the weekends when the science library closes at 5pm. Student librarian Geoffrey Jacobs ’09, who opens the library at 1pm on Sundays, said there is often a crowd lurking around Noyce waiting to use the space. “Right now it’s mainly an issue of funding,” said Jacobs. Funding will only be increased when students make it clear that they would take advantage of extended hours.
And employees insist that they are consistently evaluating and reporting on library usage. “Every hour we walk around and count up how many people are using the library,” said student librarian Ian Bishop ’10.
“It’s mostly just computer use that gets crowded,” added Jacobs. “And group study rooms are taken up most of the time.”
As long as the new library continues to attract students, Jacobs and the other librarians hope that funding will increase and the library will ultimately be more successful in addressing student’s needs.
