Nick Boston
Layout Designer

The library of Iowa Western Community College is quieter now that a new policy was implemented earlier this year. The policy focuses on the fundamentals of normal library usage: being an environment in which students can sit, study, and quietly complete assigned work.
The policy, printed on card stock and posted clearly at the front entrance of the library, reminds students to use the library in a manner associated with common, practical use of a resource that is designed for students to quietly complete their tasks, study for their classes and educate themselves using the various resources the library has to offer. These resources  include the wide selection of literature, and access to the Internet.
“I want to give students the opportunity to study and hang out in our library,” said Ellen Van Waart, a library staff member and director of learning resources, “I want to make the library a safe environment for the students to study.”, she continued.
Van Waart notes the improvement she has seen in the library since the implementation of the new policy, which has included more practical use of the facilities provided.
Some students have reacted differently to the new policy, however.  “I don’t like [the new policy], because it means that I have to be quiet,” commented Mike Chartrand, a freshman at Iowa Western, “that’s just not right.”
The library has plans on evolving to assist the needs of the students who prefer to utilize more of the technology the library has to offer, and thus, a new library is being built across the street from the Reiver Village Apartments on campus, which will focus solely on technology-based resources. The construction of this new library, which has been given the name Cyber Café, is expected to reach completion by 2011, though it may be completed as early as spring semester next year. The building is also slated to include a new student center, student services offices, as well as a cafeteria.
During the summer months, a new computer lab was added to the upper-level of the current library, mainly due to the increasing demands of students using the Internet. To add to the numbers of computer resources available in the library,  the school has purchased more laptops, which can be checked out from the library’s the front desk.
Noting the two major changes, Van Waart stated, “If any of the students have any suggestions on improving the library [furthermore], I [am] open for comments.”