As the new school year gets under way, students are adjusting to the many aesthetic and technological changes that were made to the Snell Library over the summer. The space has been redesigned to fit the needs of a modern institution while still making students feel comfortable as they slave away writing papers and studying. Although there have been statements of confusion over the new layout or printing system, there has been more positive feedback than negative.
“I personally like the new changes,” said sophomore Zachery Shaw. “I think the addition of all the study rooms will be really useful for group projects and study groups. I also like the addition of electrical outlets, because before if you weren’t sitting around a wall, it was often difficult, or impossible, to find a free outlet. The library seems to be a more welcoming place with the bright, modern colors than last year when it was all brown and gray.”
As Northeastern becomes an increasingly modern campus, it must continue to meet the needs of its students, faculty and community members. The additions to the library did just that. “The shift from predominantly print to predominantly digital in recent years has had a major downstream consequence, which is the elimination of print shelving,” said Dean of Libraries, Will Wakeling. “This change presented the opportunity to recreate the spaces in the library to better serve the needs of the campus community.”
Despite the modern advances, the new space can still seem daunting and confusing to those who have not been in the space for long. “The library was pretty easily navigable with the exception of the first floor printing,” said new student Matt MacWatters.
Even though the space is new to upperclassmen as well, Northeastern Veterans have lots of advice to erase confusion and the lines that build up as a result.
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Never try and print something within 15 minutes of the start of a class, the printing lines are ridiculous.
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If you are looking for somewhere to print, look for the bright neon green sections. Those areas are where the printers are all located.
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If you’re confused or don’t know where to find something, definitely ask the information desk, they’re all really knowledgeable about the library and very helpful.
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Show up early during midterms and finals since the tables tend to populate quickly and remain that way for the duration of the day.
- Bring your own computer. The fourth floor has hidden desks in between stacks of books that are great for studying solo.