The Daily O’Collegian

The Edmon Low Library has more than just books.

The staff tries to focus on the public and servicing it with whatever it needs, said Bonnie Cain, senior communications specialist at the library.

“Our goal here is to help people, and we’re always looking for any type of feedback so we can make the library even better,” Cain said.

Students might not know about all the services the library has to offer.

Checkout laptops

Laptop checkout is for students who need to get a project done, but don’t want to sit in the library all night, Cain said. Students can check out laptops for five hours and they can renew the checkout.

For those who have laptops, the library has WiFi.

“The library was actually the first building on campus to go completely wireless,” Cain said.

Enjoy study snacks

Students can also enjoy the newly named Café Libro, which offers sandwiches, salads, coffee and a variety of drinks and snacks.

“Not everyone knows that they are allowed to eat in the library,” Cain said. “We want students to feel relaxed while their studying so they’re encouraged to go grab a snack while studying.”

Chance Robbins, a business management sophomore, said he didn’t know much about the services available at the library.

“I transferred to OSU this

semester, so I have no clue about the library,” Robbins said. “I would like to find out more about it though because I know I’ll probably study there throughout the semester.”

Library used for more than studying

The library hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as jazz and opera concerts, poetry readings, speeches and author appearances, Cain said.

Student groups or people wanting to work on a group project can reserve spots in the library for free. Some study rooms can hold up to 15 people, Cain said.

Meredith Inselman, a marketing and international business major, said the library offers a great meeting place for students.

“I don’t use the library much for studying, but I like to do group projects there,” she said. “It’s nice and quiet, and it’s a good meeting place so groups don’t have to decide on a place to work.”

Inselman also gives tours of the campus for potential future students and she said the library is one of the main stops.

“I make sure to tell students about all the great things the library offers because often the library goes unnoticed by some people because they don’t know much about it,” Inselman said.

Library part of previous master plan

Edmon Low, the first director of his namesake library, helped President Henry Bennett design the innovative library, which was built in 1953, Cain said.

Bennett had a 25-year plan to make OSU his dream campus. The library was one of his main focuses. He wanted it to be at the center of everything and that’s why the big, beautiful library is at the heart of campus, Cain said.

Because the library has so much history, it’s almost a must that there are many ghost stories circulating around the library.

“There have been many reports of workers and students seeing or hearing things,” Cain said. “I think that’s to be expected though because it is such an old, historic building.”

The library also underwent a makeover this summer. Part of the second floor was recarpeted and new furniture was also brought in to make the study areas more inviting, Cain said.

Renovation on the first floor is also in the works, Cain said.

“We want to change the reference and circulation desk in a way that will make it easier for people to get the help that they need,” Cain said.

If students want to know more information about the library or have comments or suggestions they can visit the library Web site at www.library.okstate.edu.