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Should college libraries try to attract more students by opening coffee bars and cafes?
The most recent responses appear first
"I was not available on the date of the live colloquy, but would like to add a couple of comments about that discussion here. I was delighted to see Deanna Marcum take note..."
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- -- Donald Beagle, Director of Learning Resources; Belmont Abbey College (posted 1/11, 3:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I agree with the first portion of Carol F's statement that not every student is a bookish 'nerd'..."
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- -- Dana Zimbleman, Assistant Professor of English, Jefferson College (posted 11/27, 11:20 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Dear Dr. Thurman: I was indeed suggesting more user-friendly buildings..."
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- -- Carol F., graduate student (posted 11/26, 3:20 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Dear Carol F.: This is in no way to be taken as an adverse criticism of what you have said, for I endorse, as you seem to have suggested, making American libraries..."
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- -- Melburn D. Thurman, (posted 11/21, 4:20 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"While I love books, and fondly remember the tranquil, hushed sanctuary of my hometown's public library, I can't stand the libraries at my university..."
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- -- Carol F., Graduate Student (posted 11/21, 10:25 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Ms. Giles: The Regenstein Library is the main library of the University of Chicago..."
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- -- Melburn D. Thurman (posted 11/19, 12:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"How interesting that Melburn D. Thurman brings the University of Chicago into this discussion..."
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- -- Vera Giles, library student, San Jose State University (posted 11/19, 10:05 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"In the course of my scholarly career I have probably done research at more than 200 libraries and archives..."
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- -- Melburn D. Thurman (posted 11/16, 4:15 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I think the addition of a coffee bar is a good idea..."
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- -- Georgia Fox, assistant professor, California State University at Chico (posted 11/16, 3:10 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"As a librarian I don't worry too much about bringing in coffee to the library..."
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- -- Karl Bridges, associate professor, University of Vermont (posted 11/16, 10:10 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"My university has opened one of these coffee shops in our undergraduate library..."
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- -- Rob Silverman, assistant professor, Wayne State University (posted 11/16, 10:10 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"As an undergrad, my time in the library was limited by the length of time I could go without food or drink..."
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- -- Terry Yawn, graduate, University of Florida (posted 11/16, 10:10 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"We're asking the wrong questions. The concept of the library as a calm, quiet bastion of learning is becoming less relevant to our students..."
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- -- Laura Probst, Penn State University - University Park (posted 11/15, 3:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"'Library' should not become 'Coffee Shop/Library.' Internet is the reason for the drop in library use..."
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- -- Narendra Date, Ph.D. candidate, Howard University (posted 11/15, 2:55 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Go for it! After reading Ibironke Lawal and David Orenstein's responses, I wanted to share my opinion..."
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- -- Mantra Henderson, Reference Librarian (posted 11/15, 2:50 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"It is not a question of attracting students into the library. They should be in libraries out of necessity..."
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- -- Mark Gooch, technical services librarian, The College of Wooster (posted 11/15, 11:25 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Coffee bars in libraries aren't the issue..."
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- -- Barbara Fister, librarian, Gustavus Adolphus College (posted 11/15, 11:00 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"It isn't about coffee alone. Students, especially those in the traditional 18-20-plus range are looking for a place that encourages not just reading but collaborative work..."
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- -- John Callahan, University of Massachusetts Lowell (posted 11/15, 10:40 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Learning can be achieved in many types of environments..."
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- -- Susan Blank, Independent Researcher (posted 11/15, 10:35 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I was disappointed that this article presented such a one-sided view of the contemporary use of college and university libraries..."
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- -- Brinley Franklin, Director of Library Services (posted 11/15, 10:30 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Coffee shops in libraries!?!?! Sugarcoated medicine is still medicine..."
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- -- Rowland Cadena, doctoral student, University of Texas at Austin (posted 11/14, 3:05 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"With the success of such ventures in bookstores across the nation, it seems to me an idea with some merit..."
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- -- Matt Daniel, Student, Culinary Institute of America (posted 11/14, 10:00 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I'm somewhat disappointed that with the many topics worthy of debate within the article on declining use of library buildings this colloquy is directed to allowing food and drinks in the buidling..."
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- -- Steven Bell, Director of the Library, Philadelphia University (posted 11/14, 9:55 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"While certainly the academic library should provide an atmosphere conducive to study, the discussion on allowing (or providing) food and drink in it should not divert us from our primary mission..."
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- -- Larry Hardesty, college librarian (posted 11/13, 5:20 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I would like to amend my former remarks now that I have read the comments of a number of libarians..."
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- -- Dana Zimbleman, assistant professor of English, Jefferson College (posted 11/13, 2:15 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I think that the whole issue here is simply comfort. I couldn't work here the whole day in the library without something to drink at my desk..."
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- -- Odin Jurkowski, Library Director, Saint Anthony College of Nursing (posted 11/13, 10:20 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"For the most part I agree with David Orenstein. We have all the skills to provide needed information and technical assistance to our patrons..."
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- -- Ibironke Lawal, Engineering and Science Librarian, Virginia Commonwealth University (posted 11/13, 10:15 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"This article and its related colloquy speaks to an important matter in higher education. Unfortunately, I believe, many of us tend to look too closely at a limited set of issues..."
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- -- William R. Haden, President, West Virginia Wesleyan College (posted 11/13, 10:10 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I think adding coffee shops to university libraries is a great idea..."
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- -- Amy Pennartz, Graduate Student, The University of Texas at Austin (posted 11/13, 10:05 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"How about doing the reverse: Install computers in strategic places in bars and cafeterias which would attract students to electronic resources..."
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- -- V. V. Raman, professor, RIT (posted 11/12, 5:10 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"So far, most respondents have missed the key point of this article..."
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- -- Michael Lavin, Coordinator of Electronic Collections, University Libraries, State University of New York at Buffalo (posted 11/12, 4:05 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I believe that academic libraries suffer the same issue that most daily newspapers suffer..."
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- -- David Orenstein, manager of libraries (posted 11/12, 3:10 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Oh boy... not another fluff article about libraries and coffee shops..."
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- -- Celita DeArmond, reference and instruction librarian, University of Texas at San Antonio (posted 11/12, 1:55 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I think some people are upset by this idea because they don't have firsthand experience with library cafés or cafeterias..."
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- -- Bruce H. Spencer, lecturer, department of German, University of Iowa (posted 11/12, 1:15 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"I had the unique privilige of participating in the strategic planning process for the Alameda County Library system in Northern California..."
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- -- Rebecca Smith, MS, CEIP, JCTC, careers author and online educator, San Francisco Vocational Services (posted 11/12, 1:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"The University of Winnipeg is one of those institutions that went past the coffee shop model to allowing students to bring their own eats and drink into the library..."
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- -- Mark Leggott, university librarian (posted 11/12, 12:40 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Cafe and Coffee Bars, Smart Marketing? ..."
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- -- Mantra Henderson, reference librarian, Mississippi Valley State University (posted 11/12, 12:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Wake up, folks! ..."
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- -- Linda Arvanites, admin. asst., elementary school (posted 11/12, 12:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Having worked in an academic library for 11-plus years, I have witnessed a distinct change in use of the library..."
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- -- Paul Asay, systems programmer Indiana State University, Cunningham Library (posted 11/12, 11:45 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"The library should open up to hours that support today's needs and its customers..."
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- -- Brenda Vaughan, graduate student, University of Texas at Austin (posted 11/12, 11:15 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"What is the PURPOSE of a library? ..."
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- -- W. Waisala, instructor, NW Vista (posted 11/12, 10:55 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Coffee shops located in libraries is certainly a double-edged sword..."
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- -- Daniel Phelan, head of technical services, Ryerson University (posted 11/12, 10:50 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"An insight from Aristotle and Marketing is relevant: determine the point and the path is usually marked out..."
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- -- Bruce C. Meyer, Assistant Professor, Philosophy, Salem State College (posted 11/12, 10:00 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"While more and more institutions may open all sorts of eating or coffee drinking establishments in the library building, I question how effective..."
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- -- Dana Zimbleman, Assistant Professor of English, Jefferson College (posted 11/12, 9:55 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"The library needs to reinvent itself. It's new role should extend beyond a knowledge repository to being a place for social interaction..."
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- -- B.K. Tan, grad student, Harvard Graduate School of Design (posted 11/12, 9:50 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"Hell, yes, there should be interesting innovations made in the culture of university libraries. The monks to whom we owe western civilization (and libraries, no doubt) invented our present day high- caffeine drinks/religious libations..."
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- -- Jonathan Eells, Grad Student AKA Fodder @ UCLA (posted 11/10, 1:45 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
"If it is necessary to entice young minds in universities to come more often to libraries by opening coffee bars in the premises, it is about time educators realize, in the Shakespearean phrase, that there is something rotten in Denmark..."
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- -- V. V. Raman, emeritus professor, RIT (posted 11/9, 4:25 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)
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