Students react to newly announced renovations

By Marina Villeneuve, The Dartmouth Staff

Published on Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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Following the announcement that the historic Main Hall of Baker-Berry Library will soon house sofas and a new coffee bar, students interviewed by The Dartmouth expressed mixed reactions to the proposed renovations, which are tentatively scheduled for Spring term.

Some students said they appreciated the expansion of study and social space in the often-crowded library, while others expressed concerns about noise levels and appropriateness of the expenditure.

“As long as it keeps the ‘Great Hall’ feeling, I think it’s a good idea,” Jonny Kessner ’12, who works at the Baker information desk, said. “This area is not used for much now, and it’ll be great if it can now be a student-friendly, extra study space.”

Kevin Estrada ’11 said he was interested to see how students will use the previously “underutilized” area.

“As it is now, it’s a lot of space that does a whole lot of nothing,” Estrada said. “It could be a pseudo-social space or super facetime place, but it’s an interesting idea, and no matter what, it’ll be way better than it stands now. It’ll have an actual purpose rather than something you just walk by.”

Because the Main Hall is conducive to echoing, some students expressed concerns about the noise level of the area, particularly due to its proximity to the Class of 1902 Room, which is designated as a silent study space.

“I think it will be good for people who can study in more loud places, as well as be a good place for group projects where you don’t need silence,” Katelyn Burgess ’13 said. “It all depends on [students’] personal preferences.”

Some students said that despite the increase in noise level, the hall could still function as a social and study space.

“I think people study better in different environments,” Casey Hicks ’11, who works at the Circulation Desk, said. “One Wheelock, for example, has a kind of coffee shop atmosphere with lots of background noise. So it’s good to diversify the kinds of study spaces offered as well as respective noise levels.”

Some students said they were surprised that funds were available to renovate the area amid the recent budget cuts and faculty and staff layoffs, which the College announced in 2008 following the nation-wide financial crisis.

“It’s surprising about the money made available for the coffee bar, especially considering the layoffs and budget cuts,” Ruth Welch ’13 said. “Where is that money coming from?”

Catherine Darragh ’13 said that the renovations were a “little superfluous” considering the availability of under-used study spaces across campus.

Peter Theiss ’12 said he wished funds could be used to speed up the process of renovating the Class of 1953 Commons, while other students suggested that the construction of a bathroom adjacent to the 1902 Room might be a better use of the money.

Theiss said he would appreciate an increase in the number of group study areas, seeing as accessible spots such as Novack Cafe are “often crowded.”

“I think it’s a great idea, because they need to expand the Novack study area,” Theiss said. “It could be great for group studying and things like that.”

Changes to the hallway, generally used for student and library exhibits, will increase the number of electrical outlets and improve the lighting in the room, The Dartmouth previously reported. Initial changes will also include the addition of sofas and chairs in the area.

“While I like the idea of the changes, I do see problems,” Evelyn Fisher ’11 said. “The feel of first floor Berry is facetime-y as it is. It also might feel cramped, and not allow passersby a moment to walk in, relax and breathe — although hopefully that’s a problem they thought about.”

Fisher said she was particularly curious about the proposed coffee bar, hoping that it will sell “actual good-tasting coffee.”

“If it’s not, [the renovation is] kind of a waste of money,” she said.

Many students interviewed said they hoped renovations would maintain the aesthetic integrity of the space.

“I like the very austere sense of this hallway,” Joyce Cho ’13 said. “The modernist and classical elements of Baker-Berry are a nice juxtaposition.”

Pauline Yang ’13 said she hoped construction in the library would not “overwhelm” or be “disruptive” to students.

Angelina Laurent ’11 and Ben Schifberg ’13, members of Dartmouth Student Advisors on Libraries and Computing, did not respond for comment by press time.