The Library Café, a $1.4 million facility modeled after the popular New York Internet cafés, is under construction and will open in the coming academic year. Located on the lower level of Whitehead Hall directly across from the Library, this sleek new space will offer 50 high-speed networked workstations with full Internet and Web access, e-mail, a suite of popular software packages, and a wealth of Library and information resources including the online catalog, electronic journals and reference tools, indexes and databases, and CD-ROM products located on the Library's local area network.
Funded in partnership between the New York City Council and Brooklyn College, the facility was designed by the architectural firm of Thanhauser and Esterson. Through the use of warm woods, brushed metals, transparent wiring tubes, and halogen lighting, architect Jack Esterson created a polished post-industrial look that we believe students will find relaxed and inviting. Instead of the rigid rows of PCs that characterize most student labs, workstations will float butterfly-like from curving equipment cabinets.
Why a Library Café? The University's Interim Deputy Chancellor Patricia Hassett envisioned the Café as a facility that will provide a sort of "virtual" access to Library services and collections, effectively extending Library hours. The growing number of faculty who are creating Web-based teaching tools also look forward to this expansion of student computing power. When the Library Project begins and the Library relocates to tighter temporary quarters on the West Campus, the Café will serve as an important East Campus outpost for Library service.
The Library Café is intended to be as much about networking people as it is about networked computers. The Café will address the needs of students as whole persons: here they can communicate with each other or faculty via e-mail or online discussion groups, conduct research using suites of electronic journals and reference sources, create documents or digital art work, explore the Internet--and get help with all of these activities. Because students have a variety of study styles, the Café will offer four group study rooms, plus lounge seating and a conversation pit. All these areas will be wired for student laptops, and the Library Café will offer notebook computers for use within the facility. Casual reading material and a café area with a coffee and sandwich bar will complete a design that's meant to encourage interaction, learning, and sociability in a relaxed and appealing atmosphere.
What puts the "Library" in the Library Café? The Library Café will offer more than simple access to hardware and software: librarians, technical staff, and student facilitators will provide a supportive environment in which students can conduct research and complete assignments using the Library's growing digital collections, as well as Web resources selected and recommended by librarians. And, the riches of the Library's print collections are conveniently located right next door. Workshops on a variety of topics and applications will help students expand their research and computing skills.