University Libraries Upgrade Desktop Computers in Scholar Carrels

A primary and essential objective of the University Libraries is to make available the best possible technology to our students and faculty for accessing information resources at the desktop. One of the ways that we are accomplishing this is by providing the latest computer technology and software throughout the University Libraries.

This includes expanding and upgrading the desktop computer equipment we provide in each of Bracken Library’s 48 Scholar Carrels that are located on the east side of the third and fourth floors.

Bracken Library’s Scholar Carrels are unique, distinctive workspaces that are designated for individual scholarship. Each room provides about 40 square feet of space. In general, these spaces are reserved by the semester and are renewable for up to three consecutive semesters. They afford graduate students and faculty with a private, secure environment to focus on research and pursuit of academic achievement.

This upgrade includes installing faster desktop workstations that have large hard drives, a LCD flat-screen monitor, an optical mouse, and keyboard.

These systems provide our scholars who use the carrels with convenient access to the Libraries’ online academic databases and information resources using the University’s award-winning WiFi network that is fully accessible throughout the Libraries. In the past, only those scholars who brought their own laptops had a computer available for their use in their Scholar Carrel.

Of course, users can also use their own laptops in these carrels instead of the desktop or they can use it in addition to the workstation in the carrel.

Each PC workstation is equipped with the Microsoft Office 2007 suite and other productivity software such as SPSS, EndNote, and the major instant messaging clients (AIM, MSN, Yahoo!). This equipment and software allows each scholar easy access to the Libraries’ academic resources, and it provides a state-of-the-art academic achievement environment for discovery and writing.

For more information, contact Bradley D. Faust, University Libraries’ Assistant Dean for Library Information Technology Services, BFaust@bsu.edu, 765-285-8032.