Some of you may be asking “So what?”, “Why does this
matter?” or, more likely, “How do you know this?” Pull up a chair, and I will
answer all of your questions.
No, I did not go through every floor of the library tallying
the different types of chairs. Rather I stumbled upon this bit of information
during a conversation with one of my supervisors. At first, it just seemed like
a random fact about the collection of furniture the library has accrued throughout
its many years of operation, but the purpose of these chairs is far greater
than just providing a place to sit.
The variety of chairs serve an important purpose: to
accommodate the needs of the students at Oklahoma State University. The library
has cushy chairs, rigid chairs, tall chairs and short chairs. Chairs with arms,
chairs on wheels, chairs of wood and chairs of steel. Bean bag chairs! Chairs
that look like stairs! (Yes, you can sit on those). I’m getting carried away.
If you plan on spending hours at the library, hunched over
your notes, you want to be comfortable. Otherwise, that hours-long study
session you had in mind might just be cut short. Take it from someone who has
spent many a finals week on the fourth floor of the library, things sprawled
across a study carrel. You need a comfortable chair to power through those
grueling hours.
Of course, chairs are not the only factor in creating a comfortable study environment. Temperature, cleanliness and lighting all play a huge role in our mood and focus. John DeGeorge, the manager of project support services at the Edmon Low Library, understands this better than anyone.
“If there’s any way we can accommodate our students to make them a little more comfortable and fit their style of studying, it’s nice to be able to provide that for them,” John said. “Little things contribute to that, like temperature, electrical needs and safety. We want to make sure it’s a safe environment.”
Things like clean restrooms, dry entryways and plenty of free outlets are all small things that can make a big difference in how someone feels when they visit the library. A flickering light or a chair that’s too hard can become distractions and make studying even harder than it already is.
The OSU Library’s accommodation efforts go beyond simply fixing or maintaining the library facilities. The library recently added grommet outlets to the tables in the Anne Morris Greenwood Reading Room. This eliminates the need for students to trail their chargers across the floor or crawl under tables or behind chairs to find the sole outlet hiding on the wall.
Three new study rooms were also completed this year on the third floor of the library. John said that the study rooms are one of the more popular spaces in the library, and his team has tried to create spaces that are ideal for both larger groups and single students.
There is no plan to slow down anytime soon. New study bars are currently under construction on the fourth floor, and this summer, the entire third floor will get a facelift.
“We’ll re-carpet, paint the whole area and try to put in colors that are more conducive to studying,” John said. “It will be a change I think the students will appreciate when they get back in the fall.”
The library is for everyone, and the people at the Edmon Low Library strive to make it a comfortable environment that facilitates learning. There are a number of people who work behind the scenes to keep the library neat, clean and functioning properly so that students can study successfully. This includes making sure there are chairs that suit a range of preferences.
I feel that the careful consideration of little things, such as a broken window blind or even something as small as a chair, show just how much the OSU Library cares about its students. So whether you’re looking for something more structured, like a solid wooden chair, or something softer, like a cushioned armchair, the library has a place for you.
Posted by Jenny Berry, electronic communications intern
