Welcome to Fall 2009 @ FM! I would like to take this opportunity to re-introduce you to our Library....

Now, wait just a minute, you say. What, exactly, does she mean by that? Libraries don't really need an introduction, do they? I mean, they have books like always, and now they have stuff online that you can get to on their new computers... So what's the big deal?

The big deal is that you might not know that FM’s Evans Library is constantly re-inventing itself -- for you! Just like the libraries mentioned in a recent CNN news report "The future of libraries, with or without books", the Evans Library @ FM is changing, growing, developing.... in essence, it’s evolving into a learning space that is designed especially for you! And, not too surprisingly, by you!

To re-invent ourselves, one of the things we've done over the summer is to listen to your concerns about the atmosphere here at FM’s library. The Spring 2009 Student Satisfaction survey showed that although 79% of respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with the atmosphere here, a number of people weren’t too happy with the noise levels they found in the Library. While there were a few complementary comments (i.e. “The noise level is acceptable and appropriate”), most people wanted to tell us they were not pleased; the Library was: “very loud”, “way to [sic] loud”, “it can get really loud”, and finally “the library is almost always very noisy”.

Now, as you might know, we do have a “Code of Conduct” that outlines acceptable behavior in the Library and I can tell you that the staff does their best to fairly and evenly maintain a library-like atmosphere. However, libraries around the world are changing and they are so much more than just about quiet. So over the summer we decided to change things, to ‘zone’ the areas and to make it easier for people to find places in the Library where they could study and work in a way most comfortable for them. I think one user said it best when they stated “people need to be able to talk AND have quiet”.

And so Ta Da... welcome to the Evans Library, Fall 2009 where you’ll find a Green Zone – a “Commons” area ideal for those who wish to work & talk in groups (moderate conversation and considerate cell phone use welcome!); a Yellow Zone for “Quiet” study (your traditional library atmosphere with whispered conversation & texting only) and finally your Red Zone for “Silent” study (no talking & no phones, just silence!). There are maps at the Library entrance to direct you to the different zones; just pick one up!

We hope that these varied and clearly marked spaces work for you and we’ll do our best to keep the areas clean, comfortable, and disruption-free. You can help us by not only letting us know how our ‘zones’ are working out (look for a quick survey in October), but also by calling our attention to people who are not respecting the zone they’re in.

The Evans Library is for everyone here at FM and we want to do the best we can to make this Library what you need it to be. So come on in and work, read, study & SUCCEED!