Talking in the Library

Fall Break 2012 Hours

Campus will be mostly empty during Fall Break, but if you plan to take advantage of that by packing in some quality library time, be sure to check your favorite library's hours first.  Here's a quick run-down fir the Manhattan campus. 

• Sunday 11/18 Hale open 1p-5p, branches closed
• Monday 11/19 Hale open 8a-6p, branches open 8a-5p
• Tuesday 11/20 Hale open 8a-6p, branches open 8a-5p
• Wednesday 11/21 Hale open 8a-6p, branches open 8a-5p, except Weigel closed 12p-1p
• Thursday 11/22 All libraries are closed for the University holiday
• Friday 11/23 All libraries are closed for the University holiday
• Saturday 11/24 Hale open 1p-5p, branches closed
• Sunday 11/25 All libraries resume normal hours, except Weigel remains closed until Monday

Enjoy your break, whether it involves tons of study time or tons of family time or tons of sleeping time! 

So have you ever slept in Hale?

There are hundreds of people every year who study & nap in the library, but even if you haven’t, think about all the destruction that can be done to that furniture! Needless to say, the soft seating is due for
replacement, which is happening this summer.

Whether you visit Hale daily, or just during finals week make sure you stop by the 2^nd floor by April 20^th to give your input on what furniture will be purchased. There is a long line of furniture against the back wall, each with its own poster for you to write your opinion on. We want your input since you will be the one using the furniture so you should head over here and take a seat!

P.S. Please refrain from writing any inappropriate comments, we want your voice to be heard but any offensive or inappropriate comments will be covered. 

Small leak in Hale Library

There has been a small leak on the 3^rd floor of Hale Library. We have removed the books from the affected area and covered the shelves with plastic.  If you need anything from that area please contact the Help Desk. We will have the materials back on the shelves next week.

Hale Releasing Steam 2: Electric Boogaloo

We first ran the post below back in 2008.  We're getting a bunch of questions again, so we thought it was worth reposting.

Thanks to everyone who's reported the explosion of steam coming out of the west side of Hale Library.  That's where our steam release valve thingy is located (somewhere around the 4th floor of Hale near the SW corner.)

It's all perfectly normal.  We think the building and pipes are trying to adjust to weather changes by releasing the steam.  In case you didn't know, we're one of many buildings on campus heated by steam.  I don't know why our release is so much more spectacular than other buildings, but get your photos while you can.

I'm sure if the building could apologize, it would apologize to everyone strolling by, enjoying the lovely day who then had a heart attack when the steam exploded out of the side of the building.

-Sara K. Kearns

Looking for the hottest place to study on campus? Try Hale's Great Room

You may have noticed that it's hot in Hale.  Well, technically, it's hot in Historic Farrell Library, the part of the building that is home to favorite study spaces like the Great Room and 117. We also have some folks, like iTAC, who are requesting permanent relocation to Antartica.

We honestly wish we could turn the heat off, but it's not technically on. I know, but don't the radiators seem... hot? I'm not an engineer, so I honestly cannot explain the mechanics behind all of this. What I know is that the chilling unit for this part of the building is broken. The replacement won't be installed until May 16th. We didn't predict these record breaking temperatures and I know our buildng services are doing what they can. Unfortunately, it's still ... hot. I understand some people even like the heat. If you are considering a move to Arizona or Nevada, this may be a great time for you to road test your heat tolerance.

If you need an alternative place to study, take a look at the options provided here.

Quiet Zones: A time of great study calls for great courtesy

Into each semester comes a time of great study. That time is upon us now.

If you haven't stopped by Hale yet, you should know that everyone is hunting down a corner so they can study for Finals.  Based on the number of study groups we've seen, we know people need space to study in groups. We've also been hearing from a lot of people who want somewhere quiet to study (and thanks to roommates, neighbors, and other distractions, quiet study space in Manhattan is hard to find.)

So, where are you going to study?

Quiet study: 1st, 3rd, and 4th floors are designated for quiet studying.

Group study: 2nd floor and the Anita C. Lehner 24 Hour Study Area (you know, outside Einstein's).

Don't worry, we've put signs on almost every table, so it should be clear from the moment you walk through a floor whether it's quiet or group study.

When you do come in to study, you should be aware that space in Hale will be at a premium. Here's where the great courtesy comes in. For instance, who hasn't seen one person at a table that can seat 4 or 6? Our motto? Share the table, share the love.

Trying to be courteous by taking your phone call away from a quiet study area? Avoid anywhere with tiles, like the stairs at either end of the building or the entrace to 2nd floor. Tiles + phone call = everyone in the vicinity hears everything you say.

Another opportunity for courtesy? If you're studying in a quiet zone and a couple decide to review their biology notes out loud, feel free to politely remind them that they are in a quiet zone, but group studying is encouraged on 2nd and in the 24 Hour Study Area.

Finally, if you don't find a spot to your liking in Hale, there are some other options on campus, especially if you don't need to study all night.

Fiedler Engineering Library--open until 11:30 p.m. starting Sunday
Weigel Architecture Library--open until 10:00 p.m. starting Sunday
VetMed Library--open until 10:00 p.m. starting Sunday (11:00 p.m. on Thursday)

Confirm their hours here. 

The Union is open until 10 p.m.

If you live in the Halls, ask at your hall's front desk to learn if any study rooms are available. The Academic Resource Centers in Derby and Kramer are open until 11 p.m.

Best of luck on your studying! Remember to get plenty of sleep, and in one short week summer will be here.

Hale quiet study temporarily relocated to 1st floor

I have an earworm. Every time I walk through 1st floor, the song "Voices Carry" by 'Til Tuesday gets stuck in my head, "Hush, keep it down now, voices carry." Whilst* distracting to others when I start humming,  this particular earworm exists for a good reason.

Due to water damage in the Great Room (Mural Room/Harry Potter Room), we've temporarily relocated the quiet study zone to the 1st floor until we're able to reopen the Great Room on 3rd.  Not a perfect solution, we know, but we wanted to be sure the folks who need quiet to study have a place in Hale.

The signs went up today, so if you've been studying on 1st this semester and didn't know .... well, there was no way you could know. But now you do, and be sure to tell your friends!

We don't currently have a date for when the Great Room will reopen, so stayed tuned for updates online (such as this one) and keep an eye out for signs notifying you when the Great Room is once again open for quiet study. Confused about why the Great Room is closed? Check out this earlier post (with photos) about the Great Water Leak of January 13.

As always, thank you for being considerate of others when you study!

And now, I'll share my earworm with you. I know it's about a woman freeing herself from an overbearing boyfriend, but that refrain is pretty solid. Now you'll all know what I'm humming...and I'll know what you're humming. Hmmm. We probably shouldn't hum it on 1st, though.

*I just read a report from Mintel that used "whilst" instead of "while" and I've been itching for a reason to do so myself.

Hale Library Water Leak

Thursday, January 13, 2011…the day the Hale Library flooded! Ok not quite, but it sorta felt like it for a minute.  Some pipes burst on the roof and the water followed gravity. Another scientific theory held true in the library. 

 

Don’t be surprised when you come in next if the carpet smells a bit…wet.

Reduced circulation services during Winter Break

During K-State’s Winter Break, K-State Libraries will reduce some of our circulation services from December 23, 2010 through January 2, 2011:

The following services will not be processed during that time:

• Recalls
• Retrievals from Annex or Offsite Storage
• Circulation notices (electronic or via the U.S. Postal Service)
• Interlibrary loans

Please be aware that the Libraries reduce hours during semester breaks, so you may wish to consult the calendars prior to visiting campus.

You may always check and manage your library account online, see the Renew books/My library account link on the Libraries home page.

Services will begin again Monday, January 3, 2011.  Thank you for your consideration during this period of reduced staffing.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Finals Week

Hello, finals takers! Your K-State librarians want nothing but the best for you, so here's a little info to help you out.

Finals schedule: The fall 2010 finals schedule for K-State, just in case you're too addled to know what test is next.

Hale Library hours: This one is easy.  We're open. No exceptions.

Hale quiet zone changes: 2nd floor and the 24 hour study/Einstein's area are where you should head if you need to talk or do group work. Every place else in Hale is quiet from Saturday until finals are done. Please try to be considerate of those stressed out folks near you; Hale is historically packed starting the weekend before finals, so every little bit helps. Ask at the Help Desk if you need help convincing your fellow studiers to keep it quiet.

Free Stuff: We'll have coffee, tea, and snacks for you from 10pm to midnight on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights during our annual semester-ending Caffeine Fix. Just head to the Help Desk when you hear the announcement and we'll hook you up.

Best of luck to all of you, and congrats on making it through another semester.  We'll miss you while you're gone on break!