May 9, 2002-Vol33n28: Book storage space sought

Book storage space sought
University negotiating with Wegman's to rent vacant store

By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor

The university is negotiating with Wegman's to rent space in the company's vacant store on Alberta Drive to use as a storage site for less frequently used library books, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee learned at its May 1 meeting.

Helju A. Bennett, associate professor of history and chair of the Faculty Senate Information and Library Resources Committee, told senators that the Wegman's space was ideal because it is a short distance from both North and South campuses, providing for speedy access to stored books. In addition, the space is large enough to accommodate the enormous amount of shelving that would be needed, as well as possibly provide for a small reading room for people who want to use the books on the premises, she said.

Bennett noted that freeing up space in the libraries—if a deal is struck with Wegmans—would offer an opportunity to improve the on-campus library facilities. Although the results of a survey on library facilities recently circulated to some faculty members have not yet been tabulated, "informal inquiries" have revealed that cleanliness, noise and extensive use of computers intended for library research for other purposes are among the problems often cited by library users, she said.

When discussing the issue of what encompasses the ideal library, Bennett pointed out that members of her committee recalled "human-friendly" libraries they had worked in. "All of those libraries had places within the library confines that provided for the needs of people who wished to work intensely for some time," she said, mentioning in particular the Estonian National Library in Tallinn. The Estonian library features a bookstore, access to office supplies, a cafeteria, a bar and a restaurant, she added.

"All of these services contributed to the possibility that people using the library would meet 'accidentally' and exchange information about their research and scholarly work," she said. "It also made it more likely that intense private research in the library would not be interrupted by the need to leave the premises for various necessities."

Any improvements to library space made available by storing books at Wegmans should include space for "intellectual exchanges and human needs," she said.

In order to try to make this suggestion a reality, Bennett said her committee has begun to search for "a benefactor or corporation" that would contribute "to the building of this kind of enhanced space." The panel planned to meet with Charles J. Kaars, assistant vice president for sponsored programs administration, to learn about grant funding that might be pursued, she said.

In other business, the FSEC heard a presentation about classroom space from Joseph Zambon, professor of periodontics and endodontics and chair of the senate's Facilities Planning Committee.

Zambon, who also sits on the university-wide Classroom Steering Committee, told senators that the university spent about $900,000 last year for improvements to centrally scheduled classrooms. The improvements included both general maintenance work, such as clearing out broken furniture and installing chalkboards and markerboards, to information technology improvements, including equipping six medium-sized classrooms with educational technology.

He noted that the steering committee has prioritized its classroom-improvement recommendations for 2002.

The first priority, he said, is to maintain classrooms and educational technology, which involves making classroom repairs, replacing broken furnishings and replacing broken educational-technology equipment.

Among the specific recommendations would be to hire a sound engineer to make suggestions on the replacement of sound baffles in numerous classrooms in Knox and Diefendorf; replace tablet-arm desks in several classrooms with tables and chairs so students could use their laptops; remove non-functioning demonstration benches in two Diefendorf classrooms, replace broken or failing IT equipment in existing IT classrooms, complete IT installations in existing IT classrooms so that all these classrooms have uniform equipment, replace non-functioning sound systems and replace missing podiums.

The second and third priorities for this year, Zambon said, would be to equip additional classrooms with IT equipment to meet the needs of the faculty, and to consolidate two small Fillmore classrooms into a medium-sized classroom.

Funding for all of the recommendations would total 640,505, with the first-priority recommendations totaling $280,505, according to figures supplied by Zambon to the FSEC.

Zambon noted that none of the recommendations have been funded yet because the university is waiting for the state budget to be finalized.