The Reference Department in Irwin Library at Butler University has been undergoing renovations for a while now. As of this week, those changes are completed. Below is a list of most of the changes that we’ve undergone during the last few months:

  • About 20% of the books have been weeded out. Many have gone to the circulating collection while some were given to faculty (individuals and departments), others listed for other libraries to take, and still others remanded to the Free Books shelves.
  • This is in addition to last summer’s weeding project of about 10%.
  • Shelving was rearranged from angles to straight lines coming out from the back wall.
  • More computer tables were brought in, along with some new computers.
  • The wiring for the computers (both power and data) was totally redone, resulting in box-style conduit running along the floor between the rows of computer tables. Old wiring holes were patched.
  • Three group computer workstations were added and signage deployed to designate them as Group Workstations.
  • The Career Reference section (a separate location code) was put on its own shelves along one wall.
  • A flatbed scanner was installed on one of the lab computers.

Lots of changes from the way it had been. These changes are already seeing positive results. Much more group work is going on. The new computer tables are shaped like half-circles, so even though there are only two computers per half-circle, there’s plenty of elbow room and it’s easy to bring in one or two chairs for an impromptu group to work on a project. The seven new computers brings our total to 27, increasing our computer total by about 40%. The wiring looks MUCH neater, since all the wiring runs through the table legs and then comes out and plugs right into the outlets. The two printers are in a more central location, making it easier for people printing or maintaining the printers. The shelving is all in straight lines, making it easy to see if anyone needs help down the aisles. The entire room looks much bigger and more open. The windows that run down the length of the room on one side are now visible all the way down.

I’d say that the best part of all this change is seeing how easily students are working in groups now. It used to happen once in a while, but the furniture didn’t accommodate group work very well. Now it’s happening naturally, and not just at the designated “group workstations.” And at the same time, the curved computer tables are creating angles, so it’s not like stiff, straight lines of workstations. These angles create some privacy while at the same time opening up space for groups when needed.

It was a lot of work and a lot of planning, but the end result is an “information commons” that much better meets the needs of our students.