When BYU-Hawaii students and others who have been away for the past several months return, they will be pleasantly surprised to see all of the physical changes on campus and in the community. They'll be equally pleased to see the improvements being made in the Joseph F. Smith Library.
Douglas Bates, University Librarian and director of the Joseph F. Smith Library since August 2002, explained that he is "shepherding projects that my predecessors started and envisioned" that will "enhance the usefulness and usability and atmosphere of our building."
"Last year we renovated the front entrance," he said. "We put in new doors, laid new tile, got new security gates and new furniture for the e-mail post office, and we bought a new circulation desk."
"We did those for two reasons: The security gates were old technology and needed to be replaced; and the new tile added to the aesthetics of the building, plus they're more functional."
Bates added that Physical Facilities staff recently changed the movable walls in the Pacific Islands room and are currently renovating all the reference library offices and enclosed study rooms, relocating the curriculum library collection to make room for an upgraded computer area, and installing new doors going into the reference library and the stacks.
"The curriculum material is being moved to the area where the children's and young adult literature is, and they will be open stacks," he said. "Because of the changes to the reference offices and the use of a new movable wall product, we've also increased the floor space for study areas and stacks in the Pacific Islands room, and it looks nicer."
"The other projects are being done as fast as Physical Facilities can get to them," Bates continued. "Within the next three weeks, we're going to tear down all the study rooms and put up new group study rooms with the new movable wall material. We'll be making eight rooms where seven now exist."
"Each one will have a big window, and multiple data and electrical connections. In the future, we plan to add technology such as projectors, laptops, and whiteboards that students can use. We're still studying exactly what items should be included."
Bates also noted the area previously known as the library computer lab "is now going to be called the Information Commons. This area, which was previously rather crowded, is going to expand into where the curriculum collection was. We've purchased 90 new computer carrels, each 48 inches wide, so students will have plenty of work surface. The service desk will not only provide computer assistance, but will also provide information assistance."
He explained that while the new Information Commons is being completed over the next two-to-three months, the library will establish as many as 50 temporary computer stations. He added he hopes this wouldn't inconvenience students at the beginning of fall semester, "but we think it's more important that we get it done right."
"When this is all done, the changes will allow our students to use all of our collections in a way that enhances their studies and scholarship. For example, we're going to institute a new federated search product. Students and patrons will be able to search across multiple databases, including the library catalog, using a single search. We've contracted with a software company to provide these services, which will also be used by other Church-related institutions."
"You cannot use the library anymore without a computer," Bates continued, noting the library provides access to about 15,000 electronic journals and 30,000 electronic books as well as its approximately 300,000 traditional volumes.
"The students can now have access to all the electronic information and books, and also the tools to put that information together," Bates said. "It will look good. It will be effective, and students will enjoy coming here. It will be a good atmosphere."
"The mission of our library, as defined by our staff, is to provide quality space, quality resources and quality services," he said. "We're working now on the space, and we continue to work on the resources and services. Having a nice place to study enhances the ability of the library to fulfill its mission."