Laura Teegarden
Daily Egyptian
Starting Aug. 1, the second through the sixth floor of Morris Library
will be closed to the general public to prepare for the upcoming
renovation, stirring some concern among students who were hoping to use
them during finals week.
Fabiane Melo, a graduate student from Brazil studying instructional
technology, said she is disappointed because her usual study spot on
the fifth floor will be inaccessible. She likes to go there because
there are few distractions.
"I cannot even imagine how this is going to be when all the students come down here [the first floor] to study," Melo said.
She expressed concern that the increased number of people studying on
the first floor and basement might be distracting while she tries to
study for her finals.
"Some people just need privacy to study," Melo said.
Susan Tulis, associate dean for information services, said the deadline
for the Aug. 1 closing was necessary in order to complete everything on
time.
"We don't have a lot of time," Tulis said. "If we wanted to do this the week before the fall semester, it wouldn't work."
She said that as the campus prepares for incoming students, the
demand for Physical Plant staff increases as the start of the fall
semester draws near. Therefore, working with the Physical Plant staff's
schedule is a reason for the early closure.
"This seemed to make the most sense, considering the involvement with people outside the library as well," Tulis said.
The vast amount of work involved with the project also takes time, and
the staff is starting the moving process as time permits, she said.
In fact, tables, chairs and computers from the closing floors have
already been removed, so students wouldn't even find the floors useful,
Tulis said.
If students need books that are located on the closed floors, they only
need to request the books and pick it them up at the circulation desk,
she said.
"We're trying to make it as painless as possible," Tulis said. "We're doing the best we can."
Mark Hoagund, a senior from Clifton studying mathematics, said the
closing of the floors won't really affect him during finals week
because he prefers to study in the cooler basement of the library.
"I can't stand the heat anyway," Hoagund said.
One of the few people still left on the third floor, Gary Shepherd,
library technical assistant, said he doesn't really think the closings
will have too much of an impact on the University until the fall
semester starts.
"The first week it's going to be strange to everybody, staff and patrons alike," Shepherd said.
He said it is too soon to tell what kind of impact the floor closings
are going to have, though he acknowledges there is going to be a period
of confusion.
"We're hoping everyone will be patient," Shepherd said.
Reporter Laura Teegarden can be reached at
laura_teegarden@dailyegyptian.com
