The admin actually listened and they are bringing the physical collection back to the shelves where it belongs. I am honestly in shock but so incredibly happy that we pushed back against those renovations because this entire thing was such a headache for so long. We just have to keep …
April 6, 2014
Final supporters
Student Petition to Restore and Renew Miller Library
Since our library collection has been moved largely off-campus[1] and holds knowledge essential to the students and faculty of this College and since:
1. Having those books immediately available and organized on shelves not scattered online is critical for original research and allows the actual browsing of the physical books,
2. Having books immediately available allows students to learn with their professors and learn research techniques necessary at higher levels of learning and expected at a school such as Colby,
3. The renovations occurred with limited/no transparency on the part of the administration – who later claimed that it was driven by student demand – and since,
4. The renovations do not improve the academic quality of Colby College in a manner correlating with the amount of money put into the renovations,
5. The amount of study space has increased only negligibly, if at all,
6. A significant number – 76 – of the faculty have also opposed the renovations – and have been generally ignored by administration,
And since:
We, the students of Colby College, deserve a library that is of the highest academic quality, one able to help us grow and learn as researching, exploring, and curious students –
We the undersigned request the books be brought back to Miller Library, that a full reference section and reference desk staffed by qualified librarians (not students) be returned to Miller, and that, if there is overflow of books, an adjacent building be constructed to house our collection where it can be used and studied. We ask Colby College administration act with greater transparency to both the faculty and students, and in the best interests of the faculty and students. And we ask Colby to provide an academic space for students and faculty to teach, research, and learn that more accurately reflects the academic rigor and level of Colby College.
As new projects are presented to the new president, we ask that stopping “PHASE II” of the Miller renovations, and replacing it with an expansion of the library and return of our collection, be considered urgent concerns. We ask the administration bring back the books and study space to Miller Library so that it serves students and faculty better.
We, the students, in other words, ask the administration to listen to our voice.
Signed:
[1] Figures from Clem Guthro, Head Colby Librarian, Colby Echo, comments to Carli Jaffe, “Miller Renovations Cause Stir on Campus,” Sept. 25th, 2013.
Updates
March 29, 2014
I really did not think people would be this worked up about the shelves but it feels like the whole campus is finally looking at these empty spaces and seeing the same absurdity I do. It is honestly kind of overwhelming to wake up and see that so many of you are just as frustrated as I am about how they handled this.
Reached 100 supporters
March 29, 2014
37 Comments
Deplorable, a cost-cutting measure at the expense of Colby's academic integrity. If the art museum's floor space can be doubled, why must Miller's library dedicated space be halved? It makes no sense.
So sad that such a good library is being taken apart. There is so much to be gained from the wandering through books, finding thing one never expected. And it is a myth that everything is available on line. Please rethink this.
Yes, students need more space to study. But the first phase hasn't maximized that at all---where are the cubicles? Where is there a silent space I can get my work done? I often research through the snowball effect---browsing through different sections to find what I need. Yes, much of the material is online, but it's not the same. It's a shame that there's so few books in the library.
The new library seems to have less individual study space- the second floor seems to have been converted into meeting rooms and a few tables that are always taken but never full. Bring back the cubes!
While I primarily studied in Olin, I can empathize with the difficulties of this change. When I was looking for answers in a chemistry text, I often found that the answer was within the texts just next to it. I do the same thing in the medical school library (now a medical student at Emory) when I want a more complete overview of a disease. We need context to provide complete information.
That's where my cousin goes to college! What a shame this is that this library is in danger of closing its doors forever!
That's where my cousin goes to college! What a shame this is that this library is in danger of closing its doors forever!
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The admin actually listened and they are bringing the physical collection back to the shelves where it belongs. I am honestly in shock but so incredibly happy that we pushed back against those renovations because this entire thing was such a headache for so long. We just have to keep …
April 6, 2014
Final supporters
Student Petition to Restore and Renew Miller Library
Since our library collection has been moved largely off-campus[1] and holds knowledge essential to the students and faculty of this College and since:
1. Having those books immediately available and organized on shelves not scattered online is critical for original research and allows the actual browsing of the physical books,
2. Having books immediately available allows students to learn with their professors and learn research techniques necessary at higher levels of learning and expected at a school such as Colby,
3. The renovations occurred with limited/no transparency on the part of the administration – who later claimed that it was driven by student demand – and since,
4. The renovations do not improve the academic quality of Colby College in a manner correlating with the amount of money put into the renovations,
5. The amount of study space has increased only negligibly, if at all,
6. A significant number – 76 – of the faculty have also opposed the renovations – and have been generally ignored by administration,
And since:
We, the students of Colby College, deserve a library that is of the highest academic quality, one able to help us grow and learn as researching, exploring, and curious students –
We the undersigned request the books be brought back to Miller Library, that a full reference section and reference desk staffed by qualified librarians (not students) be returned to Miller, and that, if there is overflow of books, an adjacent building be constructed to house our collection where it can be used and studied. We ask Colby College administration act with greater transparency to both the faculty and students, and in the best interests of the faculty and students. And we ask Colby to provide an academic space for students and faculty to teach, research, and learn that more accurately reflects the academic rigor and level of Colby College.
As new projects are presented to the new president, we ask that stopping “PHASE II” of the Miller renovations, and replacing it with an expansion of the library and return of our collection, be considered urgent concerns. We ask the administration bring back the books and study space to Miller Library so that it serves students and faculty better.
We, the students, in other words, ask the administration to listen to our voice.
Signed:
[1] Figures from Clem Guthro, Head Colby Librarian, Colby Echo, comments to Carli Jaffe, “Miller Renovations Cause Stir on Campus,” Sept. 25th, 2013.
Updates
March 29, 2014
I really did not think people would be this worked up about the shelves but it feels like the whole campus is finally looking at these empty spaces and seeing the same absurdity I do. It is honestly kind of overwhelming to wake up and see that so many of you are just as frustrated as I am about how they handled this.
Reached 100 supporters
March 29, 2014
37 Comments
The lack of transparency at this school is ridiculous, a place of higher learning needs to hear from the people it serves.. i.e. Faculty and Students. Why ignore the people who you serve???? Doesn't really make sense does it.
Deplorable, a cost-cutting measure at the expense of Colby's academic integrity. If the art museum's floor space can be doubled, why must Miller's library dedicated space be halved? It makes no sense.
So sad that such a good library is being taken apart. There is so much to be gained from the wandering through books, finding thing one never expected. And it is a myth that everything is available on line. Please rethink this.
Yes, students need more space to study. But the first phase hasn't maximized that at all---where are the cubicles? Where is there a silent space I can get my work done? I often research through the snowball effect---browsing through different sections to find what I need. Yes, much of the material is online, but it's not the same. It's a shame that there's so few books in the library.
The new library seems to have less individual study space- the second floor seems to have been converted into meeting rooms and a few tables that are always taken but never full. Bring back the cubes!
While I primarily studied in Olin, I can empathize with the difficulties of this change. When I was looking for answers in a chemistry text, I often found that the answer was within the texts just next to it. I do the same thing in the medical school library (now a medical student at Emory) when I want a more complete overview of a disease. We need context to provide complete information.
That's where my cousin goes to college! What a shame this is that this library is in danger of closing its doors forever!
That's where my cousin goes to college! What a shame this is that this library is in danger of closing its doors forever!
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The lack of transparency at this school is ridiculous, a place of higher learning needs to hear from the people it serves.. i.e. Faculty and Students. Why ignore the people who you serve???? Doesn't really make sense does it.