Undergraduate students
Apr 13th, 2009 by Chris Dixon
Any academic library is integral to campus life and learning needs of its students, and so any library building project needs to ensure student needs are met. We hope you will attend an information and feedback session during the campus visits by the architectural firm Shepley Bulfinch and tell us exactly how you envision a new library will meet your needs. However, this supplemental virtual space is provided in case you had lingering comments or questions after an Open Forum session, or if you couldn’t attend in person. We welcome any and all feedback as we the vision for a new Fenwick Library.
Open Forums (held in the Johnson Center Library Instruction Room #228):
Wednesday, April 15th, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Monday, April 27th, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Tell us what you think:
- What currently draws you to Fenwick Library? What are your primary uses of Fenwick Library (research, study, group work, social gathering or something else)?
- What about the current library is working or not working?
- How much of your studying or coursework happens in the library versus outside the library? Where do you study if not in the library?
- How satisfied are you with the availability of any of the following resources?
Monographs (print)
Periodicals & Journals (print)
Electronic resources (e-journals, e-books or databases)
Access to librarians & staff
Group meeting spaces
Media production & technology
Exhibit space
Library instruction - What additional resources should be located at Fenwick?
- Are there additional services that would encourage you to use the library?
- What types of spaces should there be at Fenwick that are not there now?
A 24 hour computer lab is an absolute must.
Any additional construction to the library should be small, simple, and eco friendly.
I don’t feel like there’s a lot of access to the librarians/staff. There should be group viewing rooms to watch movies, because it’s a pain to sit at the desks and wear headphones of you’re working on a group project.
The e-databases are confusing to use.
Many students want a 24 hour study area and computer lab. Students enjoy when the JC is open 24 hours during finals but have a difficult time finding a place to study when it is not finals time. I haven’t heard a lot of demand for library resources to be open 24 hours and I don’t think that it would be nessesary to have that. What is important is to have an area that is open and welcomes students at all hours of the day and serves their essential needs. It would be great if this area could be incorportated into the new library.
There are two things that strike me deeply; it seems like such a terrible loss as well as an unnecessary waste to have the “A” wing of the library demolished; and the Fenwick Library desperately needs updated additions of study rooms, not to mention a palpable need for a 24 hour study area, as mentioned in other comments. It would be the paramount of unnecessary waste to demolish a perfectly good building that could house a 24 hour study area complete with a massive computer lab, just to build a field.
The sensible thing would be to incorporate the A wing into the new building, or even just disconnect it from the library and make it a single purpose building for pure studying, complete with large study rooms (presentation size), individual study desks (as well as individual study rooms, as are seen in the normal Fenwick Stacks today), and a large computer lab. The only thing that would cost money would be the dry wall to separate the study rooms from one another. This is opposed to the hundreds of thousands of dollars that it would cost to demolish the Periodicals section of the library, demolish Lecture Hall, excavate the land and build another 5 level building where the registrar’s office is today. Not only is it economically an unsound plan, but it’s also nostalgically unsound. The periodicals area of the library is the original library of George Mason. Along with East Building, Krug Hall, SUB 1, and Robinson A, the periodicals part of the Fenwick Library made up the original quad of George Mason. It would be like throwing away that comfortable pair of shoes you bought 3 years ago, that still fit, is in mint condition, but is only 3 years old, so you throw it away. It doesn’t make sense.
I’m full of ideas/opinions today. I think that a fantastic idea would be to make the new addition with organic, green-roof architecture. Here’s a good article about it, http://www.greenroofs.com/pdfs/news-EQM_VelazquezPart2.pdf . The basic idea is that, since building generally goes hand in hand with excavation, which means the decimation of whatever vegetation and trees that are planted in the area, those trees ought to be replaced by trees planted on the roof of the building, or on ledges off the side of the building. This not only lowers the ecological footprint of building, but also lowers the yearly costs in heating and cooling that building.
The library addition must have plenty of silent study space and a large 24 hour computing lab.
Finding space for group study is not a problem. Individual study, however, is made more difficult by the constant ambient noise in the JC and Fenwick. A floor dedicated to private study carousels would be nice.
I would like to be able to rent a study room or office on campus for a small fee per semester or per day or something like that. I am sure that it would be difficult to maintain and perhaps it is better in a different type of building, but I think there would be some interest among many students, especially graduate students.
For a large commuter school, who main concentrations is stated as “Academics” really has no where for commuters to get work done.
Current problem: For the students who work and commute, it is tough to find a place to come study. You can get work done in fenwick (extremely crowded), but if you have a lot to do makes it almost impossible when you get kicked out at 11:40. The JC is open till 2, but with the staff cleaning up it is almost impossible to concentrate.
A quiet place to get school work done would be real nice, even better if it was open 24 hours. That is really what this school NEEDS.
~Peyton
It would be nice to have windows that can be opened and closed. The floors can get quite stuffy and smelly when people eat (which is understandable), but I think Fenwick would get more patrons if more windows were built in.
In addition, it would be nice to see a good portion of the library with large comfy chairs and sofas for people who enjoy reading.
If possible, I think it would be convenient to have mandatory sessions informing students of how to work the library. Some patrons don’t know how to find a book, let alone find the website to search for research materials.
What I love about Fenwick is that patrons are allowed to eat here. Please keep eating in Fenwick allowed.
1.What currently draws you to Fenwick Library? What are your primary uses of Fenwick Library (research, study, group work, social gathering or something else)?
The only thing that draws me to Fenwick are the books. In terms of space for study it is a very unfriendly environment with low lighting and uncomfortable and VERY limited sitting space.
2. What about the current library is working or not working?
Not working: is the layout of the space, it is very uncomfortable and often limited in access.
Working: books, although at times it is very difficult to find them even if they are listed as “available”
3. How much of your studying or coursework happens in the library versus outside the library? Where do you study if not in the library?
I used to study at Fenwick a bit before, but found it not effective. I mostly enjoy the Fairfax regional library which is renovated and very lovely to study at. I prefer taking the drive to go there and wait for a spot than staying at the school library.
4. How satisfied are you with the availability of any of the following resources?
Monographs (print) - NA
Periodicals & Journals (print) - not very, because there could be more especially international/foreign language materials.
Electronic resources (e-journals, e-books or databases) - decent, I’ve used some materials and found them useful.
Access to librarians & staff- not very much so, in terms of front desk (check out its great) but for research not very much.
Group meeting spaces - Fenwick is way too small to accommodate the student body.
Media production & technology - This could definitely improve, perhaps booths for individual viewings, and media viewing rooms for groups/classes.
Exhibit space - not very effectively used. This could be supplemented by an updated/changing display of works from students and professors.
Library instructions - decent, one can always look thing sup on the web page and ask the staff.
What additional resources should be located at Fenwick?
Better computers especially with Microsoft Word so students could access documents from this location. Also, a functional reference desk with multiple support staff (supplemented with a database of materials), better printers!
Are there additional services that would encourage you to use the library?
I think its all in the design of space, library is a pretty simple venue in terms of services. Students could help themselves for the most part, when needed they can ask for help.
What types of spaces should there be at Fenwick that are not there now?
Comfortable chairs and tables/desks, study rooms that are not small and awkward, a 24 hour SERVICE that especially in times of midterm exams and finals! Please consider making a functional yet effective space, that is welcoming and well lit for the students to use.
Thank you.
I hope the new additions to the library are built to be as energy-efficient as possible. The University should try to achieve the US Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum certification with this new construction. Designing the new library to be as efficient as possible will help Mason achieve it’s stated goal of becoming climate neutral, to which President Merten committed the University by signing the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. It would additionally save thousands per year in electricity, heating and cooling costs.
A green roof would be another excellent addition to the new library. Rooftop plantings help to moderate a building’s temperature, further lowering heating and cooling costs. In fact, green roofs are so beneficial that Germany, Switzerland and Austria now require them on all suitable surfaces. An article from this month’s National Geographic details the benefits of green roofs: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/05/green-roofs/klinkenborg-text/1
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I think we need a 24hour quite place to study. The library isn’t open long enough, and the JC is too loud to actually get work done. Also more tables, because most people study in groups or what not and there are never any tables to use to study, and when there are tables there aren’t always outlets for computers.