Good ideas, bad execution?

At every university, the library is a place for students to get work done, relax, collaborate, and access resources they otherwise wouldn't be able to. This could be the most simple resources, like a speedy computer, to the most complex, like an expensive niche program. Unfortunately, it is safe to say that the Old Dominion University Learning Commons is not a student friendly environment. The Commons can be characterized as not too welcoming for some students, reminding them more of a "classroom space" instead of a nice lounge/business area you would find in nice library (Slover Library in Norfolk), or a cafe (Starbucks). Complexity of the use of some resources (ex. printing), the lack of certain program capabilities, and the cleanliness of computer keyboards and accessories (as well as their age in some cases), were some other issues identified as well.

Every problem has certain effects and causes "pain" to a certain person or group of people.

The "pain" caused to students varies from student to student. However, typical "counter-measures" taken by students include the abandonment of the free for them to use (included in their tuition) library commons in search of a better environment. They pay for a coffee and do their schoolwork at a full-service Starbucks, at a local library (if they live off-campus), or elect to stay in their residence hall study rooms and the Webb Cyber Cafe. At this point, the library doesn't have much more to offer than them. These measures taken by students make them essentially lose access to resources provided by the university (resources that they don't get to experience), empty their pockets, and take away the opportunity to collaborate with fellow ODU students and meet new people.

"Overall, one of the greatest tools provided by the University to students is overlooked!"

Let's simplify the library problem as a problem everyone can relate to: think of the library as a place where you get coffee. On a daily basis, people can either spend ~$2 to buy their coffee from outside, or they can brew their own at home for a cost of less than $2 per week! The coffee they buy might taste better, and might come with a nice working environment, where they can spend 1-2 hours to work on something. But if they improve the taste of their home brewed coffee (buy some more expensive coffee from the grocery store, which is still going to be less expensive than buying a cup everyday) and make their home working environment (desk, chair, lighting) more appealing, they aren't just going to save money, but they're going to be more productive and have access to more resources as well!

Currently, ODU has more than 25,000 students in total. That includes main campus, distance learning, and other campus students. Although the portion of students that use the Library Commons is much less than the number of Old Dominion University students that take classes on campus, we are looking to accommodate anyone that is a student at the Norfolk ODU campus. This includes both current and potential students/customers.

The library problem might seem like a complex problem, but that is not the case. It's just a problem that has been overlooked in the past years. We hope that with the necessary funding, the excitement and plans provided by our Innovate Monarchs team, as well as the openness, work ethic and forward looking mindset of the head of the library, George Fowler, and the Learning Commons Operations Manager Kathryn Boone, a difference can be made!