Although the Odum Library at VSU provides more than 200 computers to students, staff and faculty, some students think VSU needs more to satisfy the growing population.

 

The Galileo lab, located on the second floor near the printers and reference desk, is the most frequently used. Despite its 120 computers, several students complain of the inadequate amount of workstations.

 

“A lot of people don’t have computers and depend on Odum, like when HallNet is down in the dorms, which happens a lot…or some people use it to print,”Riahna Lee, a freshman sociology major, said. “VSU just needs more.”

 

Other students, such as junior sociology major, Jessica Tuggle, insists it’s all about timing.

 

“It depends on the time of the day, 11:30 a.m. is okay.”

 

According to the 2010-2011 “Seniors Perceptions of their VSU Experiences” survey, only 42 percent of questioned students labeled Odum’s collection and resources as “good”.

 

Many students said they often find people “wasting” time on the computers, preventing others from completing school work.

 

“I kill time watching soccer between classes…I think it’s a first come first served basis,” Paulo Yung, a junior math major, said.

 

The LabStats on Galileo logins recorded from earlier this semester portray a decline in students’ computer research– the logins continue to decrease as the year goes on.

 

“It is really difficult when you’re looking at an application to determine whether it’s being used for recreational or for curricular purposes,” Sherrida Crawford, automated systems coordinator, said.

 

Alan Bernstein, VSU’s librarian director, has a different outlook on the issue.

“The University has both a Facebook and Twitter presence,” he said. “It would be somewhat illogical to restrict student access to such sites when the administration of their university uses [them]…to disseminate information.”

 

A possible solution to this computer dilemma could be the 20 study rooms and three labs available in Odum.

 

Crawford said the issue of unavailable workstations may be resolved if more students were aware of the other labs in the Odum library. The 3250 lab located on the third floor provides 48 available workstations, the internet café on the bottom floor has 38 PCs and the second floor 2633 lab has 37 computers.

 

“I didn’t know there were that many labs,” Anslee Hutson, a junior physical therapy major, said. “They’re probably more spacious and quiet… the people in the Galileo lab are annoying.”

 

Crawford also had some sentiments on the topic of future library expansion.

 

“I don’t know if there’s a greater need [for more workstations] right now,” she said. “ I don’t see that happening in the future.”

 

According to Bernstein, Odum’s analysis of lab usage proves it is an “extremely rare event” for all labs to be completely filled at one time.

 

“At present, there are no plans to either expand the library or add more computers for student use,” Bernstein said.

 

These members of the library staff believe Odum provides an adequate amount of workstations and that the alternatives to using the labs, such as bringing your own laptop, checking one out from the Media Center or using Wi-Fi on a mobile device, should suffice the students’ needs.

 

Crawford hopes to increase awareness of the many services in the Odum when the new website for the library launches.

 

For more information on the Odum Library and its services, contact Alan Bernstein at abernste@valdosta.edu or Sherrida Crawford at Crawford@valdosta.edu.