What kinds of spaces would you like to see in the Library?
It’s a busy time in the University libraries, especially around the middle of the day. We have seen how many of you are sitting around in groups discussing projects, making posters and generally collaborating on all kinds of study tasks.
There have been some Library renovations at Bendigo recently and there are some planned for later this year at Bundoora. What we would like to know is what kind of space you would like to see in the Library as part of any future renovations?
Add a comment here and tell us what you think. We are interested to hear your ideas and preferences.
UPDATE! RE: Space
Thank you for your comments, feedback and ideas everyone. We love to hear your constructive suggestions and preferences.
We are very aware of the issues many of you have raised and both Library and University staff are working to solve them.
The Bundoora Library building project planned to begin later this year will address many of the issues raised, including creating many more student workspaces and improved amenities. You can read more about the project at www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/bundoora/building
This is probably the busiest time of year in the Library and we thank you for your patience while we work on improving space in the Library.
What we would like to know is what kind of space you would like to see in the Library as part of any future renovations?
28 comments
08/05/2009 at 9:29am,
I’d like to see a cafe section, to have a coffee and read the paper. Also, more power points for laptops around the place.
08/05/2009 at 12:15pm,
A printer in the computer area downstairs (close proximity)
08/05/2009 at 12:21pm,
Adobe Flash player on all computers in the library in order to do online tests
08/05/2009 at 3:33pm,
* More group study area would be great.
* I would like to have a mobile phone and food friendly area for individual study.
* I strongly agree Craig – more power points for laptops please!
08/05/2009 at 4:42pm,
I WANT THE LIBRARY TO STOP BEING SO HUMID & WARM!!
I thought a humid environment would be bad for books, so why is this place so horrid????
09/05/2009 at 4:42pm,
Agree with Helen and Craig.
more Group study areas NEEDED, mobile and food friendly areas.
Power ports would help us very much in increasing our productivity and reduce lining up for desktops.
Please restrict all the above areas and facilities only to La trobe
University Students.
Almost all the PCs are virus infected. Pls update and scan for viruses.
10/05/2009 at 12:38pm,
longer opening hours on the weekend would be wonderful.How about 8.30am to 6pm. If it works well, what about 8.30am to 10.00pm, I should imagine there would be many of us who would benefit from having longer access to the library, especially at this time of the year
10/05/2009 at 12:43pm,
i would like some arm chairs to sit back and read in. and i also agree with warm moist girl, it’s too bloody hot in there. and a stabler around the photo copiers would be fantastic.
11/05/2009 at 10:05am,
The current library is too small for the amount of students the university actually has so maybe the university should consider extending the library or maybe building another library on campus.Despite La Trobe having a huge library compared to other universities we are the only one that actually has one library which makes it harder for students as it just gets EXTREMELY crowded.
I too agree with the above students with regard to the necessity of more study spaces. There are not enough spaces nor tables to cater for the students wanting to study on the second level.It also gets too crowded and very noisy which comes back to my point of having a larger library or another one.
It would also be great to have more power points throughout the library or maybe our library can have the desks that have power points that come with it just like other university libraries.
We should also have more computer units to study on the third level.
11/05/2009 at 1:44pm,
We simply need more resources to cope with the growing student population. There are not enough computers or study tables or desks. When you have short windows of time to study in the library you find yourself wasting half of it searching for a free (and functional) computer or a horizontal surface somewhere. In addition, it is grotesquely over-heated, which makes it an uncomfortable place to study if you are lucky enough to find a space.
11/05/2009 at 2:44pm,
It would be good if all the computers were actually working. In one bank of computers there were about six that were out of order.
12/05/2009 at 1:44pm,
I agree with nearly everyone who has already posted – more computers, more powerpoints, more places to study (both silent and group work so that the chatters don’t annoy the silent solos and vice versa) and longer weekend hours. It’s also enormously frustrating that if you do manage to get a carrel with a computer it will invariably have a virus on it, and nobody seems to be able to advise whether it’s safe to use a memory stick or not. For many people Bundoora is a long way to come to find that you can’t safely use the computer you’ve booked and have to go home again to get some work done.
12/05/2009 at 4:45pm,
The library should not be a food friendly environment. Books and food do not mix. Considering how much some of the books cost, I would not want someone’s greasy paw marks left over the books.
Definitely more areas for silent and group study. Perhaps some more areas specifically for post graduate students to study (carrels preferably) many departments do not have the space to house the large number of post grads on campus.
More power points and less computers with viruses, more computers would be great but the sheer number of students that abuse the system by watching movies and playing games already, I fear this would make the problem even greater.
I would like the library to be quieter environment, this is supposed to be an academic environment rather than a place to hang out with friends.
14/05/2009 at 11:45am,
- More group study areas (single study areas seem to be okay to find, but group areas can have you waiting for hours to find somewhere to sit).
- More powerpoints for plugging laptops in.
- Longer weekend hours for those who use the library on weekends (I’d personally use the library less during the week, freeing up space for others, if I could come in for longer on the weekend as most of the time it’s not worth coming for 4 hours) – I know this isn’t about spaces, but it would really help the congestion during the week.
14/05/2009 at 2:46pm,
More points and more group study areas
15/05/2009 at 11:23am,
EndNote on the library computers! It makes no sense to me that the computers everywhere else on campus are so much more up to date and user friendly than they are in the library. Also, why is it that printing in the library is more expensive than elsewhere? In effect we pay more for a lesser service, so I find myself running all over campus in order to save money and resources (printing double sided) and still work in silence and close to the books.
15/05/2009 at 11:36am,
i would like there to be more toilets in Bendigo, there are only 2 and the female ones are always full and dirty and smelly.
thanks
16/05/2009 at 4:47pm,
I agree with more silent study areas. Toilets downstairs. Opening longer on the weekends, even 11 to 5 would be better, as a post grad who works during the week the weekend is the only time I use the library.
Don’t agree with eating and mobile areas.
16/05/2009 at 7:47pm,
It is really, really HOT in our library (Bundoora). I just can’t stay there to study. It’s all get a book and get out.
In any new space, segregate and insulate group areas from all the other spaces. Group areas are essential, but I find the level of noise distracting when trying to work alone, or even when hunting resources.
Also agree that (many) more power points are desirable.
18/05/2009 at 11:47am,
Good of you to ask us…
i think we need a 24 hour study hall or something of that description within the library….every other university has study areas of this description but La Trobe is lacking in this respect
seems like librarians just want to get us out at the end of the day and go home…
19/05/2009 at 10:14am,
It is way too loud, nobody actually controls the ‘quiet’ study areas so most people just talk anyway and I cannot concentrate. People use the library for a social hangout and don’t respect it as a working space. I would actually use the library space to work in if the silent study section was enforced.
Perhaps more segragated group areas would help this.
Also I think the interior could do with a revamp, the horrible exposed brick walls, old chairs and ancient desks could do with a makeover, its not very inspiring.
Plus I agree, it is way to HOT!
19/05/2009 at 4:30pm,
- Can air exchange system be improved? I always feel lack of oxygen in library.
- The wireless doesn’t work well after Easter break, can it be fixed?
Thanks
20/05/2009 at 4:43pm,
More copiers in the reserve area. the ones that are there oftem give you the wrong account balance on your card so you have to then start again with another machine.
Also the main floor is really noisy with people just hanging around in groups talking, not studying. I don’t want to sound snobby but it’s like being in a shopping mall, it’s so noisy.
10/06/2009 at 9:50am,
The library has enough computers. The issue of adequate computer facilities should be the responsibility of the University in general, not just the library. LaTrobe Bundoora suffers greatly from a lack of computer labs. Other unis I have been a student at have great labs, some with 50+ computers, designated labs for undergrads and postgrads, and are generally open when the libraries are not.
Demand for computers in the library would decrease if the University established decent labs in other areas of the campus. The Study Hall is not enough and obviously with the buildings now closing at 6pm any computers available in the departments will not be accessible. Library please, put the onus back onto the wider University to provide better computer facilities and lets have some more “traditional” library spaces (ie. Quiet Reading Areas).
11/06/2009 at 1:50pm,
I agree with the more recent posts regarding more study spaces for both group and private study. I too agree that the library has enough computers and if more are needed that the University should provide seperate computer labs other than the one that already exists. These computer labs should also be close to the university center rather than being on the outskirts of it. Also, maybe the library can provide more laptops to borrow rather than fill up precious study spaces with more computers. I think people are forgetting that the library is not supposed to replace a computer lab.
Secondly, I would like to see more tables on the second floor so people who are actually there to do group study can actually find a table to sit on. I have realised that a lot of people are using this area to socialise so maybe something should be done about this. I don’t mean to have a go at anyone who does this but you should realise that the library is not the place to do it, that is why it is called a library, a place to go and study, not a place to spend you whole year socialising and making heaps of noise. The libaray should target these issues as there are limited group study spaces and also limited group study rooms you can actually book.
Also, as students have already suggested, there should be more powerpoints available and they should be in convenient spots.
Finally, the wirless coverage should be equally strong in all parts of the library rather than only certain parts. I have realised that it usually does not work on the 3rd floor which is inconvenient as many students do actually need the internet for study purposes.
Thanks.
24/12/2009 at 10:39am, Bundoora
I agree with others that Bundoora library is way too hot and stuffy.
More power points
More group study areas are needed and keep them separated from silent areas. Also I think this would free up some space in the silent areas if the talkers had somewhere else to go. Also this would improve the noise levels in the so called ‘silent areas’
11/03/2010 at 6:07pm, Bundoora
I agree the library is way too hot. Although this year it has been better.
I’d like to see rooms for group study. The study Carrel are big enough for two but then you can’t talk. I row of study carrels in a talking area would be good.
12/05/2010 at 1:46pm, Bundoora
Internet is v-e-r-y s-l-o-w . Hate waiting for ever for a site to load. Very frustrating. More power points definitely. We have cafes within a 20 second walk from library door so would rather see the space used for other things.
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