History of King Library - Term Paper Example

Research, English 4 April Study Efficiency of King Library 0 Introduction King Library is Miami s largest library and certainly the main library of the four that the Oxford-based institution manages. The other three are the Brill Science Library, Amos Music Library and the Wertz Art and Architecture Library. King Library serves as the central library facility as well as the center of administration for the University’s Libraries system. The library currently hosts various sections including the Center for Information Management (CIM), Center for Digital Scholarships, Walter Havighurst Special Collections, Government Information and Law Collection and the Instructional Materials Center (IMC). The library also offers sections for Technical Services, Library Systems, Conservation Lab, Access Services and administrative offices. King Library is also a home to the much famed Howe Center for Writing Excellence and the King Café, a coffee shop located within this expansive building (Resnis 289). 2.0 A brief history of King Library The first part of the King Library, its south section, was completed in 1966. At this time, the library was first known as the King Undergraduate Library. Subsequently, the library was further expanded to accommodate the northern section that was completed in 1972. Following this expansion, the library dropped the word "undergraduate", and the new name remained as the King Library. Prior to the establishment of King Library, Miami University relied on Alumni Library, which was later renamed as the Alumni Hall after the establishment of the King Library. The name “King” was named after Edgar Weld King, one of the longest serving librarian at the institution at the time and who had a hand in the establishment of the facility (Risser 19: Miami University). It is believed that the completion costs of King Library was about 3 million dollars (Dry 15). 3.0 The structural design of King Library As earlier mentioned, King Library is comprised of various parts and sections. In general, however, the facility has four floors in which these various sections are housed. King Library building has a basement floor, the first floor, the second and the third floors. In the basement area of the King Library, there are two notable sections characterize the area. The King Café is a popular spot that is ever busy with activities involving selling coffee and other fast foods to the occupants of the library. The King Cafe is more of a point where people studying at the King Library can visit to take a break from their studying schedules. Some of the most popular dishes and drinks include the deli sandwiches, garden fresh salads and bakery products (which are made in the café) among others. Additionally, visitors to the King Café can also purchase bottled drinks, popular smoothies as well as beverages from popular brands such as Starbucks. Typically, the King Café is open every day of the week with opening hours ranging from 7 am and 11 pm with the exception of the weekend day when opening hours are from 10 am and closed as early as 3 pm (Saturday). Another popular section situated in the basement area is the Children’s Library. This library is quite a quiet place although it is not located very far from the busy and noisy King Café. While here, one will notice that the area is typical of a children’s room especially with the numerous picture books and puppets that grace the library. One thing to note about the basement area is that it is closed at 11 pm despite other parts of the King Library running over the 24 hours (unless otherwise stated). The main floor (ground floor) of King Library provides the entrance to the library and thus has a lot of traffic caused by the users who are streaming into the library. At this floor, there are several sections where students and other attendees to King Library can use for their studying purposes. The Howe Writing Center is an area dedicated to assisting writers to perfect the art which is an essential part of any learner. The section allows the library occupants to seek help in their writing pursuits where qualified members offer consultation services for the library attendants. Additionally, this main section provides the cubicles that are great places for use by the library attendants. The cubicles have wooden barriers that help to create confines that are necessary for increased concentration for learners using this section. The cubicles are popular among the library users and thus can be occupied most of the time. The 1st floor is one of the quietest areas of the King Library. Here, the area has several large tables that lie against the wall and which are served by coaches and little desks. The area is usually quiet most of the time, probably due to its location further from the noisy parts such as the librarys entrance and the King Café. Additionally, there are cubicles on this floor as well which replicate the shapes and sizes as those of the main floor. The 2nd floor is not popular with many users of the King Library, and thus few students use this area. A large section of the library users (and especially the new library users) probably do not know about the existence of this area and thus makes it one of the most silent locations in the King Library. It is also an ideal place for users who wishes to have increased concentration while studying. Study rooms are also found in the King Library, and these are largely a target for students and library users who meet up for group discussions or projects. Typically, the study rooms are small rooms that are easily controlled with regard to distractions since they allow for lock functions and sheer freedom from the surrounding environment. Study rooms are only accessed through reservations which can be done online through the library’s web portal. One of the key factor to note about the study rooms is that they are only open for use to the currently studying students. The study rooms are reserved for a group or individual use with each session allowed for a maximum of two hours. However, this can be extended if the study room in question has not been reserved for another session. Reservations for study rooms especially during the final weeks of the semesters can be quite daunting due to the demand for these facilities. This allows for reservations of up to two weeks earlier that helps to provide a good chance of success in acquiring the study room for users. One of the things to understand is that a delay of up to 15 minutes in picking the key for the respective study room qualifies the user to loss of the reservation opportunity. 4.0 Best areas to use for study purposes in the King Library As it has been shown throughout the discussion, the knowledge of the floor plan of King Library is essential in determining how much the library user benefits from using the library for study purposes (“Miami University Student Blogs”). For example, occupying the area adjacent to the King Café will only result in poor concentration due to the noise and movement distraction that characterizes this area. However, for studies that entail group discussions and others which do not demand very high levels of concentration, then the area may still be used for studying purposes. As expected, most socializing within the King Library takes place in the King Café. It is also worth to note that the open area of the ground floor offers a lot of distraction which is caused by various movements that result from library users who are constantly moving in and out of the King Library. The best places for use in engaging in studies that demand high concentration are certainly the areas farther away from the King Café if at the base floor. This would include the Children’s Library and other rooms that are situated away from the noise and visual distraction emanating from this facility. Additionally, the cubicles on both the ground floor and the first floor provide ideal conditions for library users who wish to concentrate on their studies. The cubicles provide wooden confines that leave away the possible distractions that may be available in the library such as friends getting in the facility or sight of other diversions typical of a University library. The study rooms are an ideal place as well for studying while at the King Library although they provide a challenge to acquisition since the reservation system used can be challenging. It is worth to note that there are various rules that the King Library has set for its users. For example, maintenance of silence is expected from all the users which is certainly corresponding with providing a suitable environment for the library users. Other rules include a no-smoking directive that restricts the library users from smoking on the premises of the library. The users are also expected to report any sort of damaged parts of the library immediately noted. A recent case of sexual harassment within the King Library also proved that such acts are forbidden within the facility and the University in general (Journal-News). Works Cited Daley, Justin. The ins and outs of King Library. Miami University Student Blogs. 2013. Web. 4 April 2015 < https://blogs.miamioh.edu/admission/2013/01/24/the-ins-and-outs-of-king-library/> Dry, Dan. Miami University. Louisville: Harmony House Publishers, 1993. Prin Journal-News. Banned from campus: Policies vary widely among local universities. 2014. Web. 4 April 2015 < http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/banned-from-campus-policies-vary-widely-among-loca/nhGxS/> Miami University. King Library. 2015. Web. 4 April 2015 < https://www.lib.miamioh.edu/system/king-library> Resnis, Eric, et al. "Information literacy assessment: a case study at Miami University." New Library World 111.7/8 (2010): 287-301. Risser, Paul G. Miami University: Egalitarianism or Academic Superiority?New York: Newcomen Society, 1994. Print. Read More