Alden might extend hours

Laura M. Schneider
Staff Writer

Ohio University students might know that the last call at Alden Library comes much earlier than many Uptown businesses ­ at midnight. But those students wishing to study a little bit longer might just get their way after renovations at the library are completed.

Alden library officials hope to extend operations, possibly to be open 24 hours, after renovations consolidate important services onto the second floor, Julia Zimmerman, OU dean of university libraries, said.

The first step in creating a more inclusive second floor was the combination of the reserve room, copy services and periodicals into the Information Delivery Center last summer, said Nancy Rue, OU associate dean for public services.

Prospective plans for the second floor include a coffee shop that would replace the library’s vending area.

“Hopefully it would be a very comfortable, pretty place to sit and meet with your friends or a professor,” Zimmerman said.

The coffee shop likely would sell sandwiches and pastries, among other things, she said.

The renovated second floor also would include wireless computer hookup, laptop computer checkout services and about 15 study rooms, which would be wired for Internet use.

“There aren’t nearly enough (study rooms) in the library,” Zimmerman said.

A new conference room for student use, a handicap ramp on the Park Place side of the building and adaptive technology for students with vision problems or dyslexia also would be included on a renovated second floor.

Library officials will make formal plans for the renovations after they have received funding, Zimmerman said. They have received roughly half of the $1.5 million needed to complete the planned projects from private contributors. Officials hope to collect enough funding to have the project completed by 2004.

After renovations are completed, the library likely will be open 24 hours during exam weeks, and officials will examine the need for further hour expansion, Zimmerman said. To determine students’ needs, Zimmerman said she hopes to put together an advisory group of students.

OU junior Erin Weiland said a coffee shop would be a welcome addition to Alden.

“I think a lot of students go to Perk’s (Coffee House and Roastery, 49 S. Court St.) and Brenen’s (Coffee Café, 38 S. Court St.) to study. I think it’d be nice to have one like that at the library; it’d be more convenient,” she said.