"Not every college student is a voracious reader or a 'nerd' who would rather go to the library than the exercise room. These students need incentive to exercise their reading and thinking muscles."

I agree with the first portion of her statement that not every student is a bookish "nerd." In fact, I believe that such students are the minority. Quite frankly, I worry about those students more than I do the rest because I fear that tampering with the library may drive them away. My experience as a community college teacher makes me believe that we tend to overemphasize how much "fun" learning can (or should) be in order to appeal to students who aren't particularly studious. What appeals to the really serious student doesn't seem to matter anymore as we strive to entertain chronically bored students. I think that the things we do to make libraries more appealing to disengaged students -- whether we put in coffee shops or petting zoos -- will have little impact on how much students actually use library materials. They will eventually get bored by petting the animals, and they will eventually find a new hangout that is more fun.

Again, let me emphasize that I am not opposed to having convenient places to eat and drink in the library or that the library itself be a comfortable place. But first and foremost, it should be a library, where people go to study, think, read, and research.

-- Dana Zimbleman, Assistant Professor of English, Jefferson College (posted 11/27, 11:20 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)

previous response

next response

STEP 1: Your contact information (required)

Your name: Your title & institution: Your phone: Your e-mail address:

STEP 2: Your comments

STEP 3: Submit!

Be sure to include your name and affiliation. Legitimate requests for anonymity will be honored.

The Chronicle maintains Colloquy as an open forum where readers can comment on issues. Submissions may be condensed or edited for clarity, but editing is kept to a minimum. We correct errors in spelling, punctuation, etc. In addition, we remove statements that have the potential to be libelous or to slander someone. In cases in which people make claims that could be libelous, we will remove the names of institutions and departments. But in those cases, we will not alter the ideas contained in the submissions.

Please read our privacy policy or our Colloquy help page if you have questions.

Check this box only if you would like this submission to be considered for publication as a letter to the editor in the printed Chronicle.