Sarah Pohlman
NCSU Libraries has been awarded with numerous national and international awards including being one of the “Most Beautiful Libraries in the World.” It’s no wonder that people want to come visit and we want to show our facilities off; however, because of the NCSU Libraries’ exam week policy, parents, donors and prospective students are blocked from having the opportunity to see our incredible libraries.
On Nov. 30, NCSU Libraries announced that there would be limited access to both D.H. Hill and Hunt Libraries. NCSU Libraries stated, “No tours, sightseeing, or events are allowed between the last day of classes and the completion of final exams. Access to the D. H. Hill and Hunt Libraries is limited to the NC State community during reading days and final exams.”
Restricting visitors during exam time isn’t going to change the libraries’ environment or improve students’ concentration. Although I appreciate the NCSU Libraries’ attempt at making a good study environment, it doesn’t improve library effectiveness.
The library is constantly filled with potential distractions, and all these situations are allowed at almost all times, yet NC State students are still able to achieve academically. If you work in the libraries as often as I do, you’ll see that NC State students become accustomed to visitors, tour groups and sightseers.
Finals week is one of the only times that students’ parents can see these libraries for themselves. This can apply especially to out of state students or students with parents who can’t visit during the school year.
During the end of my junior year, my father came to Raleigh to help me move out after I finished my exams. Since he was unable to visit NC State often, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for him to see Hunt Library. My dad and I walked up the yellow stairs of the library when I realized that he wouldn’t be able to see inside.
I wanted to show my dad the award-winning and nationally recognized library that I’ve raved about, but the library’s limited access restricted him from seeing it. He would have been allowed access almost any other time, but this restriction left both of us disappointed.
Aside from restricting access to visiting family members, it means that potential donors aren’t allowed to see the facility they could support financially. At the front of Hunt Library’s entrance is a donation box where visitors can show their support for the library by giving a couple dollars. Although these donations may seem small, they can add up and make our libraries an even better resource.
Finally this means that we are restricting access to prospective students. Seeing the academic resources NC State has to offer can help prospective students decide to become a member of the Wolfpack, and many siblings of NC State students visit campus around this time along with their parents.
During the rest of the school year, the libraries are open to the public and only require showing a Wolfpack One ID card after 10 p.m. on normal business days. It is not uncommon that you see students working in group projects, people facetiming or talking on the phone, or students bringing their children to the libraries.
When tour groups look through D.H. Hill Library, students barely look up from their work to acknowledge the tour. At Hunt, the third floor is never silent and friends and classmates greet each other from across the room. Noise is everywhere, and yet NC State students aren’t distracted.
If a student cannot focus with this type of noise around and needs to study in silence, they can work in a designated silent study areas located in each library. Areas such as D.H. Hill’s bookstacks or the fifth floor of Hunt are perfect for these types of students.
But for other students, these “distractions” aren’t really that distracting. I understand these restrictions are enacted with good intentions and are trying to create a less disruptive climate, but stopping visitors from entering doesn’t make the library any more quiet or students any more studious.
Whether the restricted visitors are parents, donors or prospective students, they are missing out on an opportunity to see what NC State has to offer. They would be able see the libraries at their peak time of use and see the academic prowess of NC State students.
Restricting visitors is not going to determine whether a student passes or fails their final exams, but it does restrict the public from seeing how great our libraries really are.