Library

With the return to classes many students look for resources to prepare for the new year, a quiet place to study or take their online classes. 

Several students enter the J. Paul Leonard Library with maps, books and questions on the first day of the spring semester. 

“It’s like every ten minutes students walk in and ask me for the basic amenities, like where the printers are or directions to buildings,” said Divy Famani, a front desk worker for the main library. 

“It is very busy since this might be the first semester for many students,” Famani said. “There have been many international students coming in with doubts in their brains, sometimes not regarding the library but more about overall the campus.”  

The library provides services like printing, private study rooms and laptop rentals for the semester. 

“In the morning it is super busy from eight to twelve and then it will go down from one to three in the afternoon,” Famani said. “After three they all just come till the library closes at eleven.”  

The library consists of six floors that get quieter by each floor. Each floor offers different services like research commons, research assistance, printing computers, instruction and meeting rooms. 

On the third floor, Makeda Amare, a political science major, attended her online course on Race in American Politics. 

“I come to the library pretty often. It’s pretty quiet and I get my work done here for sure,” Amare said. “Depending on the time it’s not too bad to find a seat. I’m here for about two or three hours depending on how I feel.” 

Amare has plans to try to come everyday as this is where she feels good and productive.

“There’s a lot more people on campus now that everything is opening up,” Amare said. “Everyone is and will be utilizing these spaces and services more.” 

When leaving the library doors, to the left the Friends of the Library could be found selling donated books. 

“So far, it’s been really good and we just opened 13 minutes ago,” said Barbara Loomis, director of Friends of the Library. “It’s just so exciting to see people again and the campus looks a lot better this semester than it did last semester.”

The Friends of the Library is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. and Fridays 11 a.m to 3 p.m. This week, Loomis will be here every day so she can meet all the new coming and returning staff of volunteers.  

“There’s just so many people here now that there are more classes being held face to face,” Loomis said. “That’s really bringing students to campus which is great because that’s the whole part of going to college to meet other people and this is the place to do it.”