Annotated Notes

Unit 1 Annotated Notes
I did my first observation on January 30, between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. I started in the café area, and there were around seven people there. Some were studying, chatting, or waiting in line for a snack. Only three were actually studying. I actually saw my professor talking with a friend, and one person was on the phone the entire time I was in this section. I feel like this space offers an atypical study environment in that you are not barricaded in a room or sitting at a desk. There are café tables, TVs, and food to create a coffee shop feel, and with so many people coming in and out, you do not feel as though you are “studying.” Food and drinks offer a break to those in this area, and the computers in there allow you to research if you need something else for your studies. Also, this is somewhere you can eat and not feel self-conscious about it. In other areas you might feel you are being to loud or bothersome, but for those in this area, they felt none of that.
Next, I visited the loud section, and there were around 50 students studying, at the computers, meeting in groups, or getting help at the computer desk. It was a bit quieter than usual, but being early on a Friday, that was understandable. It was funny to see what those on the computers were doing because many were not doing work. People were looking at Facebook, ESPN.com, and many other non-educational sites. This area offers more meeting and study space, and a nice escape/resource with the computers. It is a quick in and out for students coming in between classes to print something off, and in this area, you can really do any type of work. The pods offer a place to do group projects, and with so many different places to study (at the computers, tables, pods, lounge chairs, etc.), the environment suits any studier. Also, while I was there, I saw a guy recognize a classmate, and they began to work on homework together. They were probably meeting each other there, but that is a big plus for this area. It serves as a great place to meet because there are so many resources available for whatever you might be working on.
Lastly, I went to the quiet section. Around 20 people were in there, all were studying. I think this is definitely the most typical “studying” place. There are some lounge chairs, but mostly it is filled with desks, and dividers for intense studying. Sitting there, I found it a little more difficult to focus, and I noticed that was true for others because every sound and ruffle of a paper can be heard. There is virtually no noise, so when something happens, everyone can hear it. Someone was eating, and you could tell the others were not happy about it. For those who come here, complete focus and no distractions is what they seek. It is ironic too because I think in some ways, they get the exact opposite. The littlest sound can throw you off, and it can really create a distraction. The basement is even more secluded and quiet. The quiet section definitely has the biggest “library” feel out of the three areas.
My second observation occurred on Sunday, February 1 from 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. I started in the café again, and there were about eight students in there. Only two were actually studying though. Two were playing chess, and the others were talking or waiting in line for snacks. This was only a few hours after the Super Bowl, so for a Sunday night, the library was quieter than usual. But there was not too much studying going on in this area. The café is more of a social space than anything else, and it helps those who like the commotion and people going back and forth. It is a place people can go and feel like they are doing something to get work done. Many have problems studying in their rooms or at their houses, so by going to the library, they are actually feeling like they are doing something, and getting their work done at the same time. However, in this area, that can become a problem because people often get distracted and socialize more than study.
Next I went to the loud section, and here I was able to talk to a student about her library experiences and how/why she chooses the library. She prefers the loud section over any other sections because it offers a background noise that can be blocked out with music, and it helps her focus more. For her, it is a happy medium between the too noisy café, and the too quiet section. She will go to the café to meet people and converse, but not to study. She does feel that the loud section can become too noisy, but she thinks the 24 hour operation has helped spread out how many are there at the same time. She cannot study at her house because she gets too distracted, so the library is good because it creates a study mindset for her. She also talked about how much time she would kill between classes, and she sees this more of an occurrence this year than in the past. With the main gone, this is really the most central place to go, and it provides easy access for those who are off campus to meet with others. She also thought it helps her and others going here because it does feel like you are doing something and also getting your work done, sometimes. She definitely agreed that at times she has come to just socialize and sees that others do that as well. The rest of the loud section was not too loud, probably because of the Super Bowl. Many either did their work earlier, at home, or did not do it at all.
Finally, the quiet section was just that Sunday night. Only about ten students were studying, and all were either studying or reading. No noise was acceptable. This is definitely for the hardcore studier, and the simplest noise gets everyone worked up. It works for some, but for me, it would not be an option.