D.H. Hill library offers an assortment of different work spaces that cater to the various study needs of the student body. The Learning Commons is one of these areas that provides a unique learning atmosphere along with an assortment of innovative technology. The Commons was introduced last year as a part of the newly renovated East Wing of the library, and it is designed primarily as a meeting place for group work. While having a workspace in the library that allows this kind of open-verbal interaction is advantageous at this time of the year for working on projects, since space in D.H. Hill is in such high demand during exam time, library officials should consider creating quiet hours in this section.
Obviously the end of the year brings a plethora of group assignments that students can work on in absolute silence. However, during exam time, when countless individuals crowd into the Library to fervently study for upcoming exams, the necessity of the Common’s various video game consoles is questionable. Although they can provide a welcome break at other times during the year, the games are little more than a disturbance at this time in the semester. It is getting close to crunch time, and students don’t need any distractions as they finish their end-of-semester work.
Ultimately, no matter how crowded the Commons gets, students cannot expect to have absolute silence in this area during exam time. If individuals are looking for a place for individual or quiet group study, there is space available both in the library’s West Wing and throughout eight floors of the Bookstacks. These areas can fill up quickly during exam time though, so students should arrive early to stake their claim on a spot.
The truth is, if more than 30,000 students on campus decided they want to use the library as a study space during exam time, there is no way the facility could accommodate all those patrons. At the same time, we need to be maximizing the space we do have so that as many students as possible can have the study space they need.
