I agree with this idea. I think it would be a great thing to have and i would definatly abide by this if there were clearly marked signs. Dividing by floors sounds really good too. A "natural" division.

I would like for us to get rid of the computer labs in the library. There are computer labs just below the library. We don't need computer labs in the library itself. I like the classical library feel where people read books.

I disagree with a previous post. I think it is very useful and important to have computers in the library. But I do agree that students should use them quietly, and not talk to one another while using the computers.
While some talking in the library is necessary, we should bear in mind that others are trying to concentrate on their studies, and talking should be kept to a minimum, and conducted in hushed tones. And of course, cell phones should be verboten.

I think that a lot of the library's problem is that a huge chunk of it is under construction. Maybe if we were actually constructing there I'd feel better about it, but for now I think we need more space. Then we can do the subdividing and people can have their quiet spaces and have a more attractive area to study in.

Because, lets face it. Most of the library has no decoration and doesn't feel very friendly or have a friendly atmosphere.

There's my say.

I agree with the three levels of noise distinction clearly posted in different areas. As someone who frequently goes to the library for collaborative group work, it is difficult to find a place where you won't disturb someone and often times the group rooms are full with a group or often times one person who uses the whole room to themselves. Then when your group tries to find another place there will always be that one person in the corner who wants a quiet space so you can't talk in the whole section because you want to respect that person's study needs. I don't see a reason why most people who are quietly studying and want quiet aren't able to quietly study more close together in one area while groups who need to be loud study in another. It is much easier to ignore a loud group when you are a part of another loud group.

If it were perhaps divided up by floor (i.e. floor 2 quiet, floor 3 collaborative, floor 4 mix) it would be much easier and there would be less frustration for all parties, and separating by floor would not carry the noise of many groups of people collaborating on projects to interfere with those trying to quietly study as far.

We all use the library differently. I use it for quiet study as well as a place to work on collaborative projects. However, the two do not mix. Since the reading room in Wilson has been closed, myself and others like me have searched for little nooks to get some peace and quiet. There should be clearly distinct areas of the library reserved for different noise levels. I don't think that anyone expects quiet on the skybridge, but when the reading room was open, you were careful not to unzip a backpack too loudly. Clearly marked, understood and enforced areas for different styles of study would help everyone find their niche.

I think that the problem is that the areas for study, group work, or combonation work/study are poorly marked. Im graduating this quarter and I STILL dont know... where are you allowed to talk, and where is it a designated quiet area? I have began to study in areas where it was dead silent when I got there, but then one group came in and then suddenly lots of people were collaborating and talking on cell phones. I think that happened because people are confused about what the policy is in whichever room they are. I think there should be three levels of administration for library rooms or areas:

1) Strictly study - these areas should be all quiet, all the time. Students should feel free and happy to ask someone on a cell phone to go to a different area or stop talking. I feel like these are already in the library..in those remote corners or floors, and every now and again you see a "quet area- no cells please" sign..but those signs should be WAY more frequent...maybe even a reminder on every desk. People always think that they are an exception, but this has clearly become a problem, as there is group work or cell conversations happenign alllll over the library. Also, I think one computer lab should have this designation because sometimes you have to do your research/writing in a very quiet place.

2) combonation study/work. This is my favorite kind, because it is mostly quiet, but also allows for intermitant hushed speaking...like if you are studying with a partner for a test and come across a question, or if you are on a computer working on a group project and need to ask one of your group members something over the phone while you are right there. This happens sometimes, and I think a combo area is ideal for most general studying / work. I think that is also what most of the computer labs are chalked up to be right now on campus, and are ideal for where it is already noisy, like the entry ways in haggard, etc.

3) Collaborative areas- this should be places like the sky bridge or a designated computer lab that students can go to where they expect to hear other students working. At least one computer lab should allow for this kind of work because the campus is an easy place for groups to meet for presentations. Maybe there should be more then there are now, because the sky bridge gets filled up too fast, and I think a lot of people dont want to trek into the interior of the library to get one of those little rooms just to meet quickly before class or something like that.

Concerts on the Sky bridge, this is the library not the PAC. BAD IDEA.

Having been gone from WWU for two years and now returning one BIG difference I notice is how noisy and crowded the library is. It has become a place where it is difficult to focus instead of the bit of quiet sactuary it should (and used to) be.

It seems as though the respect (and quiet space) due to the library has been lost. Campus is plenty large, with several social and dining areas without having the library become one of them.

In my opinion what the library needs is a revap towards being a library. A place where students, staff, and the public feel inclined to keep their voices down and food off the tables (and out of the periodicals).

I think the library needs to enforce the "quiet areas" of the library. I hate it when I am studying in the quiet area and then a group of people come in and just start talking loudly and talking on their cell phones. I believe there needs to be library staff walking around the library making sure those areas stay quiet. If someone is distrupting the peace, they should be told to leave or told to stop making noise.

At least some areas for quite study would be really nice, but I agree. The suggestion of concerts in the library really concerned me. Please don't D: Quiet is sometimes exactly what a busy student needs.

More comfortable couches and chairs. The skybridge is my favorite place to relax but it can be hard to study since most groups meet there to talk about projects. So if we could get more comfortable areas in other parts ot he library that are quiet for studying that would be awesome!

I agree, the library is a place of study and research first, and a computer lab second (or maybe even third).

More signage on where other computer labs are, I swear that some people think the only place on campus with computers is the library. Faster computers would be nice.
And I would appreciate it if I heard more "sshusshing" from the librarians or other folks.

In addition:
-a few couches placed here and there
-open up the big hall in Wilson, on the 4th floor
-the windows are nice in the computer labs in Haggard but these rooms are not very inviting places (this is important as "all-nighters" take place here)
-another entrance to Wilson besides the one on the north side would be great
-more wireless internet access points, I've lost documents in the librarian because of disconnections from the server
-make sure the bathrooms have soap

I think that we need more of both. This school just keeps expanding. At some hours of the day all of the computers are in use and so are the laptops. We need more space in the library as it is. We also need more study areas. It is very hard to find a quite place to study. Without lugging books around the entire place.

Computer labs are a great resource for students, and i believe that at this poin its hard to imagine functioning without them, but i also agree that the library should be a library, but the computer labs seem to be taking over that function. There are other computer labs available on campus, but in the middle of the afternoon to about five or six, you can't always count on being able to find an available study space, and if you can, it is often very noisy because of the activity in the sky bridge and surrounding area.