Lab renovations to finish next month

Students looking to use the computers in Thomas Cooper Library may notice construction on the fifth floor where dozens of computers once were.

That’s because the old computer lab is under renovation and will soon reopen with a totally different look.

Once complete, the new computer lab will feature group tables with flexible and soft seating. It will also boast high-end multimedia workstations for both Mac and PC users with multimedia software and hardware for presentations, film and image editing. There will still be some individual workstations, but with larger desks and the addition of privacy dividers between workstations.

“The new lab will also have about 80 laptops for students to check out, which is almost twice what they had available in the old computer lab,” said Alma Creighton, head of Library Computing Services. “Since the library has wireless connectivity throughout, students with laptops should be able to find connectivity anywhere in the library for study.”

Cara Fertitta, a fourth-year biology student, has worked at the laptop rental station for more than three years. She’s watched students struggle with all kinds of issues when studying. Fertitta said in the past she noticed students having trouble working in groups while huddling around single monitors, an issue the updated computer lab should alleviate with the addition of its group workstation tables.

“The new lab will be a lot less miserable, which is conducive to doing work,” Fertitta said.

The renovation is a gift from the class of 1958, who chose to support the library computer lab renovation for its 50th anniversary fundraising project after considering a number of University proposals. The majority of the expenses for the renovation will be paid for by the class of 1958 in collaboration with the Library and University Technology Services.

Throughout the renovation process, which should be finished by mid-November, students have and will continue to have access to computers elsewhere. A new monitor has been arranged at the entrance of the library, which lets students know where computers are free on every floor.

A Mac computer lab has also been set up on the main level and offers access to students.

“Right now it is an inconvenience, but when the lab is finally done it will be good for all of us,” Lauren Bjerke, a second-year biomedical engineering student said. 

Bjerke said she thought more students would use the lab after the renovation is complete.

The temporary computer lab on the third floor features a laptop rental station where students can check out laptops to use throughout the library. Although students have always had the option of renting laptops, the service has become more popular since the renovations began.