Residence Hall libraries closed

IU has closed half of its residence hall libraries because of high costs and low student usage.\nSix of the 12 halls of residence libraries that remain are now called Library Community Resource Centers, while in the six halls where libraries closed, the Residence Halls Association opened new shops where students can borrow movies and music.\nFor nearly 40 years, Residential Programs and Services and the IU Libraries jointly operated 12 residence hall libraries. Two years ago, library officials told RPS that it would back out of the agreement and no longer manage the facilities.\nMany of the residence halls were interested in keeping their library, said Pat Steele, IU Libraries customer services coordinator. But the residence hall libraries no longer coincided with the library's long-term plans -- financially or academically.\n"A great deal (of the decision) was based on the number of things students were using the library for," Steele said. "The more scholarly aspect of the library was not reflected as much."\nIn February 1999, the dean of libraries asked staff members to meet with RPS to discuss how to serve students without library funds, Steele said.\nIU Libraries withdrew its $122,555 portion of the residence hall libraries' operation costs last year.\nThe total cost of running 12 residence hall libraries last year was $407,898, according to budget projection figures provided by Nancy Lorenz, RPS director of academic initiatives.\nIn addition to library funds, last year RPS contributed a total of $128,225; $35,118 came from student activity fees, student fines added $110,000 and $12,000 came from vending machine profits.\nNot wanting to pick up the full cost of the libraries this year, RPS decided to continue the "neighborhood" trend that affects the dining halls.\nLibrary Community Resources Centers will be available at Foster Quad, Teter Quad, Campus View Apartments, Collins Center, Eigenmann Hall and Willkie Quad.\nIU is one of seven schools in the U.S. that has libraries in residence halls, Lorenz said, so keeping them in the residence halls was a top priority.\n"This is a legacy we have from (the late University) Chancellor (Herman B) Wells," Lorenz said. "He said it is important to have this type of environment in our residence halls."\nWhile students will no longer be able to borrow books in six residence halls, they will still be able to borrow movies and music -- the feature that drew about 80 percent of students who visited the libraries, Lorenz said.\nIn residence halls that lost their library, RPS and Residence Halls Association have opened Music, Movies and More shops, where students can borrow movies and CDs for free with a valid student ID.\nRPS will pick up the tab for the new shops, which will eventually add DVDs, snacks and phone cards.\nRPS has budgeted $290,041 for the libraries, including funds from vending machines, activity fees, overdue fines and the division's budget, Lorenz said.\nOverhead for the libraries and shops is expected to reach $214,120; the difference will cover new CDs, DVDs and computers, Lorenz said. RPS will contribute the same amount it did to the libraries last year -- $128,225.\nLocations for the new shops, which will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight every day, are Briscoe Quad in the old 17th Street Cafe, McNutt Quad in the old center store, Ashton Center in the Ashton Club, McNutt Quad, Forest Quad and Read Center in old RHA center stores, and Wright Quad in the old Wright Library.\nRHA had planned to run the shops independently, said Jennie Woolf, Movies, Music and More director. The shops give RHA a fund-raising opportunity and a chance for student leaders to receive management experience.\nBut when RHA asked to take over movie and music rentals, RPS offered to help.\n"The big force behind it all is that we're trying to serve students in the best way possible," Lorenz said.\nLorenz said materials from the closed libraries will go to different locations, including the Main Library, other residence hall libraries and Academic Support Centers in Ashton, Briscoe and Forest. The rest will be sold.