First is Not the Worst

The smell of fresh coffee immediately fills your nose as you walk into the first floor of the Harvey A. Andruss Library, with a Starbucks to the right and as you walk forward endless research, casual reading and technology are at your fingertips, As you carefully walk your way into the library on the cream colored tile, as to not disturb the quietly working students, you see evergreen signs lit by rows of florescent lights hanging from the ceiling indicating what the first floor has to offer.

Libraries are usually known to be quiet places but sitting in it long enough can clue you into how much actually goes on. "This floor certainly isn't the most quiet of them all, as you go up each floor it gets more and more quiet." explains the lady who checks you out at the circulation desk. She also believes that everyone should come to the library because of the bountiful resources. The busiest time in the library is the week of finals, everyone tries to find a space to study.

 At this point the interviewee paused for a dad and two little girls who walked up to the brown desk, trimmed with metal to check out a book. She greets them with a smile, woke up her computer and grabbed the books to scan as the little girls filled the desk area with their laughter. The books were scanned and she pronounces in a soft sweet voice "These are due back in 6 weeks at the latest." She carefully hands them the books they wanted and they turned around walked past Starbucks and out the door.

We then resumed our conversation, she mentions "I really do wish that people would utilize what the library has to offer, there is a tour guide that takes you through the library and there are so many different options for spaces to study." Not many people know about the options besides computers and books. You can explore many different ways to obtain information because your professors now want you to find different sources than just out of a book or a fact off of a website. You can log onto any of the computers and find information with sources such as, catalogs and even scholarly journals. The murmur of students helping each other out with studying and printing continues in the background of our conversation. She states that "People should just come here, I have had graduates come back and ask themselves why they never came to the library because they now see how useful it is. Also, people should come here and actually study." When students go the library it's often just for a quick print or to find a book to check out and leave, not to actually explore the options presented.

Everyday many people find a place to sit and dive into their studies. Various seating options fill the first floor for larger groups, smaller groups and for those who want a quiet area to work. Students occupy long wooden tables with grey tops and spread out all their papers to study with friends. Small clusters of three to four sea foam green and navy blue plush chairs are scattered throughout the library to comfortably study. Little wooden desk tops attached to the chairs swivel around to provide you a place to write. The first floor has grey pillars that have computers and stools around them to work as well as charging stations that are little wooden tables to plug in your phone and laptops. To the right of one charging station there is a selection of books called "Popular Reading" filled with the most popular books to check out. Towards the back of the library there are individualized booths that have tall wooden separators to quietly work.

The big arched open windows with three panels give good natural light to work and study."Everyone should come to the library." says the woman who works at the circulation desk cheerfully. People that want to have a place where they can focus on their work come to the library. Students often get groups from their class to go study all at once or just choose a few hard working friends to come and sit in a small section of the first floor to get individual work done efficiently. Gathered into groups the low chatter of sharing ideas fills the room and almost sounds like buzzing.

As you pack up to leave the rustle of your papers are about the only sound that is being made. You swivel your desk top back and stand to leave. When walking out you pass the room where the printers are held, you can see the students rushing to print out last minute papers. The friendly librarians bid you farewell with a smile from behind the circulation desk. Lastly you take detour over to Starbucks to grab a coffee that has been calling you name since you walked in and back to you dorm with all of your finished work feeling accomplished.