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Shea Graham, right, 19, freshman of Colorado Springs, Colo., helps Caroline Johnson, 18, freshman of Firestone, Colo., with a question on her homework March 12 in the student lounge of the library’s basement. — photo by Ashley Swanson
FeaturedNews

Library poised to turn a new page

T.J. Thomson

In an effort to increase vitality and engage students and faculty, King Library will become home to the IT Help Desk and possibly two other entities, a library administrator said Wednesday.

“We will be moving the IT Help Desk to the library the first week in April,” Beverly Russell, King Library’s interim director, said Wednesday.

In addition to the help desk, Russell said she is in talks with the administration and Student Services Department to move the Teaching and Learning Center and peer-tutoring services to the library.

“We’re still discussing whether to move the Teaching and Learning Center and student tutoring,” Russell said. “We’re trying to make sure we have adequate space for what they need,” she said. “We’ve been talking to Student Services and it looks positive to move tutoring over here after this semester.”

Another improvement that has been on tap for the library is the installation of a coffee shop. Russell said the library is currently looking for a plumber to assist with the installation and expects the shop to open next semester.

“The coffee bar will wait until fall of 2013,” Russell said.

Shea Graham, right, 19, freshman of Colorado Springs, Colo., helps Caroline Johnson, 18, freshman of Firestone, Colo., with a question on her homework March 12 in the student lounge of the library’s basement. — photo by Ashley Swanson
Shea Graham, right, 19, freshman of Colorado Springs, Colo., helps Caroline Johnson, 18, freshman of Firestone, Colo., with a question on her homework March 12 in the student lounge of the library’s basement. — photo by Ashley Swanson

Russell said the location of the computer lab, currently housed in the library’s basement, would also be moved.

“Computers will be moved to the first and second floor,” Russell said, adding that the change would possibly occur during the summer.

A team from the Association of College and Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association, is currently on-campus performing an assessment and interviewing faculty, staff, and students, Russell said.

“The library will be going through a North Central accreditation in four years,” she said, and wants to use the information from the consultants to prepare for the assessment.

“[We want to] determine what we can do to be the best library we can be,” she said.

Russell anticipates creating a strategic plan for the next four to five years after the consultants’ report is submitted.

“The library wants to be a more vital part of the academic and social life of campus,” Russell said.

To this end, Russell said the library is hosting a Late Night at The Pit on April 18.

“There will be a library scavenger hunt, door prizes, and some kind of dance,” Russell said. “If you want to come to the library to study, that won’t be a good night.”