Update as of 2/29– After consulting with the Student LIS Advisory Committee who independently preferred the same option that LIS staff preferred, we have asked Facilities Services to move the two booths. Both booths will be on the upper level. One will be opposite elevator #2 and the other will be in the corridor between group study LIB301F and the south wall of carrels. The one that is opposite elevator #2 is still quite adjacent to the most staff who occupy shared offices in the building, it’s just that the adjacency is vertical, after a short elevator ride. Thanks to everyone who participated in the decision making process.
Post as of 2/24– A group of LIS staff recently attended an open meeting to consider various options for locating the two new cell phone booths. Below please see a summary of our conclusions. If you were unable to attend the meeting but would like to share some ideas, please either comment here or email me (jwatson@middlebury.edu) Also, if you prefer, feel free to stop by my office so I can point out the options on a floor plan.
Cell phone booth location notes:
-General agreement that it doesn’t make sense to put a booth on the Main Lvl.
-General agreement that it makes more sense to put both booths on the Upper Lvl. because the signal will be more reliable and it’s more likely they’ll be used. However we also agreed it makes sense to check back in with stakeholders who weren’t at the meeting to get their reaction to this before proceeding. It’s a difficult call. (LOL! “call”, get it?)
-No general agreement on the ideal placement of the two on the Upper level. In order of popularity the three options are:
- Kitty corner. One opposite elevator #2 in the alcove with the recycling bins and the other in the separate little hallway between group study 301F and the carrels on the south wall. The advantages are a low aesthetic impact, at separate ends of the upper floor. The disadvantages are the low profile for finding them, one of them is near assigned study carrels where people might be bothered, the other displaces a few nicely located lounge chairs, the possibility of providing too much privacy for mischief.
- By elevators on east end. One each in the alcoves opposite elevators #2 and #3. The advantages are the low aesthetic impact and the feeling that it’s a semi-private spot. The disadvantages are the low profile for finding them, the nearness of assigned study carrels, the possibility of providing too much privacy for mischief.
- Center of east end. next to the public access computers that are adjacent to the East Reading Room. Advantages are the ease of finding them, that they’re not very near anybody studying, and they could be easily hardwired with a land line phone. Disadvantage is the high aesthetic impact.