Guice's Blog: Happy New Year! Building for a brighter future

http://guiceblog.latech.edu/2016/01/...ighter-future/

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We have continued to use our campus master plan as a guide for making a variety of campus improvements. In 2015, we opened the Davison Athletics Complex, completed a rebuild of our water distribution infrastructure, and initiated an expansion of our new College of Business building. In 2016, we will begin construction of the Integrated Engineering and Science Education building, initiate new student housing and parking projects, and begin the design of a magnificent new library. Several other projects are in various stages of planning and completion, and all of them will support Tech’s growth.

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OK, i will get slammed probably as the present library is the "usual total pits" according to the young ones as it was built a good while ago. Are we talking tearing down Prescott or Wyly or both? Maybe it is not top notch, but yet another building going down the drain...... If the new one goes in the same place, since it's in Keeny Circle, can its architcture at least match and fit in with Keeny and Howard and whatever they call the refurbished drama/art building. And, yeah, I know Prescott didn't match when it was built either, but it should have. Now's the chance to fix that.

It's not that it is the pits or whatever, it's because it is losing functionality. They could either refurbish and be right back where we are in 10 years or less, or replace with room to grow. I think replace is a good thing.

We have to redo and upgrade/update our Library to remain a Tier 1 university. It isn't a sexy thing to have to do but it is long overdue so it will happen as it should. Period.

The "refurbished arts/drama building" was the original library and is still standing. The present library is about 50 years old. JuBru says it's losing its functionality. How much space can digital copies take? How much of the material has been digitized and available on the internet? It's not rocket science and doesn't take a lot of specialized equipment - scanners and "searchable" pdf making programs with some servers. The internet is making libraries redundant.

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Originally Posted by Houston Techsan

The "refurbished arts/drama building" was the original library and is still standing. The present library is about 50 years old. JuBru says it's losing its functionality. How much space can digital copies take? How much of the material has been digitized and available on the internet? It's not rocket science and doesn't take a lot of specialized equipment - scanners and "searchable" pdf making programs with some servers. The internet is making libraries redundant.

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I don't know what exactly LG is referring to but:

1) the copiers/scanners/printers need updating. This is the biggest thing people use the library for. The system was newish several years ago but could use a facelift.
2) students use the library for large study groups and projects. Definitely need facilities that are better able to serve this.
3) a lot of the material has not been digitized. Some, but not all.

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Originally Posted by Houston Techsan

The "refurbished arts/drama building" was the original library and is still standing. The present library is about 50 years old.

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Yeah, i worked my first summer at tech in '68 in the basement documents area of prescott, so i know how old it is. And i walked by the "refurbished arts/drama building" every day for 5 years. It was not used as a library then but art, i think. Is that what y'all yoing ones now refer to as the University Building or something like that?

Prescott is one of the first modern looking ones, so i would be fine with replacing it if it can take on an old look to fit in with keeny, howard, bogard. Don't need something matching the lambright or new apartments across the RR.

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Originally Posted by Houston Techsan

The "refurbished arts/drama building" was the original library and is still standing. The present library is about 50 years old. JuBru says it's losing its functionality. How much space can digital copies take? How much of the material has been digitized and available on the internet? It's not rocket science and doesn't take a lot of specialized equipment - scanners and "searchable" pdf making programs with some servers. The internet is making libraries redundant.

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It doesn't matter. To remain a Tier 1 institution it must be rebuilt and updated.

Yeah, if one looks closely at the campus master plan, a 5/6 story building may be seen in place of Wyly Tower.

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Originally Posted by RhythmDawg

Yeah, if one looks closely at the campus master plan, a 5/6 story building may be seen in place of Wyly Tower.

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The parking garages also appear to be about 1 story ;)

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Originally Posted by Blue Dawg

The parking garages also appear to be about 1 story ;)

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there are plans to demo Wyly. How about that?

But that is a good point.

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Originally Posted by RhythmDawg

there are plans to demo Wyly. How about that?

But that is a good point.

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I hadn't heard that. Why exactly?

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Originally Posted by Blue Dawg

I don't know what exactly LG is referring to but:

1) the copiers/scanners/printers need updating. This is the biggest thing people use the library for. The system was newish several years ago but could use a facelift.
2) students use the library for large study groups and projects. Definitely need facilities that are better able to serve this.
3) a lot of the material has not been digitized. Some, but not all.

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1) Agree. Need lots of scanners - the kind where you can plug in and scan to a USB stick or other portable storage medium. Printers not so much. Printers need computers to run them or do they let students plug their lap tops, etc into the ones they have?
2) Don't need a library for this, but could be incorporated into a new facility.
3) Just need to get onto it. Minimum wage student jobs could handle this.

The computer lab has work stations plugged into the central printer. It works ok but could be a little more seamless, computers frequently go down. Lot of work to do before its a truly modern facility.

How often can you update computers/operating systems? You buy a new computer and it's already out of date. My question "can the students plug their devices into the printers? I am assuming almost every student has his own device -laptop, tablet or desktop. Does the library have wi-fi? Do they need secure wi-fi?

Computer Labs? How passe. Every student's desk is now his computer lab. Don't waste money on computers that will be outdated in five years at most. Concentrate on infrastructure by providing networks and digital data.

Really, students need to access the material from their residences. To make the library modern this should be a priority, not some new physical structure or new computers. I'll bet that far more students use the internet for research than the library.