New chapter for Carlson

Published: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Updated: Thursday, March 4, 2010 05:03

While books sit silently on the shelves of the university’s Carlson Library on Main Campus, students can be found congregating loudly with one another on any one of the libraries five floors. This is a daily scene at UT’s largest library; however, all that might change soon.

The university has decided to restructure Carlson amid complaints from students that the library’s noise level isn’t conducive to studying. The Dean of the Libraries John Gaboury has announced that, by spring semester 2011, the university will have renovated the second and fifth floors of Carlson, expanding the Information Commons to the second floor and adding an “ultra quiet zone” to the fifth floor.

The university plans on removing all the journals and periodicals from the second floor and switching over to an electronic database for these items. As for the fifth floor, the university plans on hiring an architecture firm to redesign it and converting it into a noise-free study space where students are barred from bringing in noise-making electronics.

After nearly 45 years without renovations other than the two-year-old Information Commons, it is safe to say that the library renovations endorsed by Gaboury have been long overdue.

To begin with, the Information Commons is overcrowded and noisy. Students trying to work on research papers and online assignments will find it difficult to concentrate and work in silence, as their fellow classmates laugh at humorous YouTube videos or mistake the first floor for a country club. While there are very few restrictions on what the library’s computers can be used for and how your time in the library should be spent, students should still be courteous of their peers who are trying to study; not everyone has the quietest, most study-friendly living environment, so the library should be a place void of hindrances to academic pursuits . However, since students haven’t acted on their own, the library staff should take it upon themselves to designate a quiet zone and enforce a rule of silence.

Perhaps in need of the most attention is Carlson’s fifth floor. The torn carpet, dilapidated furniture and empty gallery space are a cry for a make-over; the creation of an “ultra quiet study space” is the perfect opportunity to restore the fifth floor. Furthermore, the university’s decision to get rid of books that haven’t been touched in years in order to supply more study space is justifiable. While books should not be expediently removed from the library, the university should try to place as many resources online, seeing as more research is being conducted using online resources.

As technology changes, universities, being the epicenters of knowledge, must change as well. Rearranging the way the library is run will allow the university to keep up with the times and provide a productive work environment for the UT community.

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Dopplermatt

Sat Mar 6 2010 18:36

I think its about time that Carlson Librarys upper floors were renovated. I am often on the upper floors as they are somewhat quieter and cozier than the Information Commons but am appalled at the condition and upkeep. The carpeting near the windows dont look like they have been vaccuumed in years with dead bugs and nail clippings, the walls and plastic molding around the bottom of the walls falling off, numerous lights out, parts of the ceiling falling or hanging down and dilapidated furniture and uncomfortable seats in the cubicles just to name a few. The study rooms desparately need updated and the use of sound deadening between rooms is a must have as you can often hear what others are doing or saying right next door. The restrooms on the 3rd floor (mens) have alot of writing on the walls, and disfacing of the partition and even the study rooms have juvenlile writing on the walls from idiots. Its embarassing to see this when UT biils itself as a world class university... it often makes me consider going to the main library instead as they keep their building in better shape. To hear the carpeting hasnt been replaced in the upper floors in 45 years is unbelievable...no carpeting is designed to last 45years. I think Carlson needs replaced badly and its something thats long overdue to keep students coming and applying to UT.

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