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BY JACK KEEFE

In print | September 14, 2006

Portable DVD players are now available at McCabe library, minimizing the number of students who will find themselves cramped into wooden carrels to view films for class this semester. Other recent additions to library services include an updated copy card system.

Over the summer, McCabe purchased three Panasonic portable DVD players that may now be checked out at the Reserve Desk for four hours and may be used in the library.

According to Peggy Seiden, a college librarian, the library decided to offer this new service as a result of an increasing number of students who were checking out the laptops for the sole purpose of viewing media for their classes.

“A lot of classes have professors who have put DVDs for students to watch. There are the viewing carrels … but they’re sort of dank and uncomfortable,” Christina Temes ’07 said. “If you wanted to take your DVD player into a private corner or a more accommodating area, that would be good.”

Seiden and other library staff recognized this sentiment and decided on adding the portable DVD players to account for “adapting spaces that were never intended to be used for media,” as the library has maintained much of its old structure from before film media resources were popularized in the classroom.

“In a film class, I’ll probably have to make use of the films on reserve,” Aaron Bretcher ’10, who is taking Introduction to Film Studies, said. “To be able to watch those films in an environment that is comfortable to me will be conducive to both my enjoyment of the films and my ability to analyze them for class.”

Additionally, Seiden explained that a change in the photocopy system was enacted due to an expiration of a specific copy contract that encouraged a shift to the school-wide copy contract.

According to Seiden, there have been no major changes to the system aside from the “sturdier” material with which the card is made.

“It’s slightly different in that the company is charging us for the cards, and we must pass the costs along,” Seiden said. “If someone keeps their copy card, they can keep using it to avoid additional costs.”

According to Access & Lending Services Supervisor Alison Masterpasqua, copy cards are being sold for $1.00 to patrons of the new copiers, with copies costing 10 cents per page with a card.

Change within the library has not been limited to only its physical services, but also extends to McCabe’s electronic presence.

Aside from the aesthetic redesign of the library Web site, the library also now provides a “Subject Portal” accessible on the student-audience sub-page that now links browsers directly to applicable resources for certain courses of study and, in certain cases, to sites and databases relevant for a specific class.

“We had been struggling with directing students to resources and asking them so many questions … It’s an elegant solution to a contractible problem in libraries,” Seiden said.

Although library users appear to have responded well to the changes, there still remains some desire for further change and restoration to the library building.

According to the college librarian, plans are underway to reupholster the carpeting of the McCabe library, and to both revise existing facilities and add new ones, including, for example, a new lounge for scholarly periodicals.

“It’d be nice to see it renovated so that it’s not harsh to people studying … it’d be more comfortable,” Temes said.

Furthermore, the library has begun to engage in a project with the University of Indiana to provide audio-streaming services and there is a developing interest in beginning another project involving full video streaming.

According to Seiden, aside from base renovations, continuing changes to the library are dependent on the degree of funding provided.

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