Saw this article in the Univ. of Tennessee student newspaper titled “ Library not a place for frivolity “. It’s mildly satirical (in my opinion) but raises some valid points. For example, “why do you come to the library at midnight to get on Facebook?” Or “Why come to the library just to check it out in the middle of the night?”
I know, the newly remodeled Commons at Hodges Library is very nice.. And I’m familiar with the “Library as Place” idea that factored into it’s creation. But is the campus library really supposed to be the new student center? Or a computer lab? Maybe it’s the way libraries have to go in the 21st century but at times I miss the peace and quiet.
Library Visits at 2 am
Maybe, like the writer, they are night owls. I know when I was in college I would have loved to be able to go to the library in the middle of the night maybe even with other people. They have a 24 hour Starbucks there for gosh sakes, you really think that’s not going to attract random people.
Maybe what they really need is designated group study areas, so that “the tourists” giggling over facebook don’t disturb others.