by Marie Albanese | staff writer
The campus library is now open and available for students at 8 a.m. every day.
“In the mornings, if you ever come in here, from 8 a.m. to 8:40 a.m., there’s probably about 150 to 200 kids here in the morning,” librarian Hailey Schmidt said. “It is very busy, people are sitting on the floor, every chair is filled, it’s great.”
Students are also welcome to spend time in the library during their lunch period, Flex, or at any point throughout the day- as long as students have a pass. It should be noted that there is fixed amount of Flex and lunch passes, so make sure to get them as early as you can.
“Then, after that, people come in with passes to print or work, and then the lunches are very busy,” Schmidt said. “During lunch, we have about 40 to 50 people in here per lunch period.”
Students can borrow whatever technology they need, at any time during the day as long as they have a pass. With all these accommodations, there’s only one request the librarian has for every student that comes in.
“From the library, we have iPads and Chromebooks to be checked out, but they do not leave the library. Students can check them out at the circulation desk, but you hand them back in; they are only for in [library] use,” Schmidt said.
The library also hosts a separate cafe that is run by students, with the proceeds going towards the library, whether for the books or keeping a fun and colorful environment.
“The cafe was established before I came to work here, but the reason it was established was because the library was trying to have an income for funds and decorations, but they didn’t want to do it through book fines, because nobody wants to pay book fines,” Schmidt said. “I keep it because I’m trying to keep the atmosphere for kids because they like it.”
These days, student use the library for not just for studying and research.
“People come in here for different reasons; they’ll come in here to meet their friends, work on a project, and some of them just want peace and quiet,” Schmidt said. “It’s definitely a place where people come and feel safe. I think they feel welcomed, it’s a nice break from the cafeteria.”
