Sunil says:
“The Need: Room w/ Vending Machine & Microwave
The Reason: I was at the library today and I ended up staying for more than 6 hours. I’m sure there are many like me who need to stay at the library for more than 5 hours at a stretch. As you can imagine, we get hungry and I think it would be very convenient if students had the option of heating up some food they brought from home, or quick heat up a cup of noodles from a vending machine. This would save us time when studying (we wouldn’t have to leave the library for food) and we would thereby be able to stay longer hours.
The concerns: There would be the concern that students would take advantage of this and start eating at all locations of library, beyond the room w/ the vending machines and microwave, but this is inevitable and nothing a little gentle yet strict enforcement wouldn’t be able to rectify. For example, if a student is seen eating anywhere besides the said room, his id would be recorded into an excel file that’s shared with all student-facing library employees. If the student’s name is entered twice or thrice, the library could impose a fine (similar to a one-week late fee) on the student. Furthermore, I have seen many students snack all around the library already, with everything from chips to chocolates.
Has it worked elsewhere? Yes. At North Park library, there is a small room on the 1st floor w/ vending machines for snacks, as well a small microwave.
Summary: NEIU RW Library should have a small room for eating that consists of a pair of vending machines, microwave, and a few tables and chairs. Students would be able to devote more time to studying this way, stay at the library for longer hours, and save time they would have otherwise spent on going for food nearby.”
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hi Sunil. We agree that it would be good to have an area for students to eat and drink in the library. It would be a more comfortable place for students. We have been looking into the options for such space and there has been discussion of even putting in a coffee shop with food (besides North Park, visit Dominican University’s library to see a successful model). Whether we put in a coffee shop or just a room with vending machines, the library has to find the construction funds.
Last year we submitted our priorities for fund raising to Institutional Advancement and our main focus was on facility enhancements for the library, including a place for students to eat! So, we will be working with Institutional Advancement to raise funds for such enhancements but the current economic environment may make things a bit slow going.
3 Comments
Many Universities have coffee shops. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for example, has a coffee shot right outside the main desk at the Undergraduate Library. It is the only library on campus with it, and it works out great. There is no trash throughout the library at all and students are allowed to eat, obviously if it becomes excessive then a library employee will call it to attention. I think it is a matter of trusting the students to clean up their area.
The cafeteria is well within the area of NEIU and next to the library. I don’t think it’s necessary to make a snack shop out of something that could be used for library purposes.
If you’re in the library for more than 6 hours it might be a good idea to get out and take a break – outside of the library.
I think we do need a microwave in the library. The cafeteria is nearby, but it is not convenient. Why would we have to walk out the library during a cold rainy/snowy day when we can have an eating area inside?