|
Suggestions and Comments |
|
|
Suggestions and Comments |
DATE: September 12, 2010
FROM: LIBADMN@georgiasouthern.edu
SUBJECT: Children in the Library
COMMENT: It is very unfair that the library is open to the community. As a student, who pays fees, I should not have to wait for a computer, due to the fact that a community member's child is playing games on it. I feel this is a service that the school pays for, and should be available to the students' needs. Allowing community members and their children to use these services without paying is unfair to the student body. There are other resources and libraries in the area for the community. They should use those, since those are services geared at their population.
RESPONSE:
Thank you for your comments. On February 13, 2001 the Henderson Library and the Statesboro Regional Library finalized a memorandum of understanding so Georgia Southern students could use the public library and local residents could use the university library. The Statesboro Herald stated at the time that the agreement would “reap many rewards for our community, both as a whole and as individuals.” This has proven to be the case for GSU students, who have appreciated borrowing popular fiction, children’s literature, and other non-academic subjects where Henderson Library collects very little. The Statesboro Regional Library has steadfastly defended this agreement in spite of complaints from local residents when the books they want are already checked out to GSU students (“how much do they pay toward supporting this public library?”), or when they cannot find a place to sit because there are GSU students using what is a much smaller facility than Henderson. Similarly, local residents have appreciated access to scholarly works of history, politics, health, and other subjects which the public library cannot afford to collect. They also appreciate access to the Internet when the public library is closed. If students were no longer using the public library and local residents were not using Henderson Library, there would be no reason to continue the agreement, but such is not the case.
One should keep in mind that many Georgia Southern students have families. Some of them work full-time jobs and are not able to come to the library without bringing their children. The library has established a family area on second floor on weekends to encourage parents and children to work in the same area.
It should also be noted that approximately 50% of Georgia Southern's operating budget is funded by the state of Georgia. Georgia citizens - including members of the Statesboro community -provide some of those funds through income, sales, and other taxes.
Please let us know if you have other comments about library resources or services.
Ann Hamilton
Associate Dean of the Library
Office of the Dean
(912) 478-5115
| Return to Suggestions and Comments |
