Ferris Library for Information, Technology and Education (FLITE) has gone through some major changes in this year, including the Academic Literacies Center’s (ALC) move to the first floor, new furniture and a new website.
“The website matches the look and feel of the university’s website,” Dean of the Library Scott Garrison said. “The new website allows users to sign in using their MyFSU username and password. It is built using current best practices, including accessibility and usability.”
Students have been offered to provide feedback on the new website, which has helped it improve.
“We have done extensive usability testing on the site with students and have gotten great feedback in the process,” Garrison said.
In addition, a change has also been made to the way study rooms can be reserved in FLITE: Ferris students are now able to reserve study rooms through FLITE’s new website.
“Students have requested the ability to do this for several years,” Garrison said.
However, earlier this year, students were required to reserve a study room 24 hours in advance through FLITE’s website, and some were not happy with the change.
“It can be annoying when you’re using a study room, and someone comes in and says, ‘You have to get out,’ if some- one reserved it online,” Ferris nursing freshman Hannah Kranick said.
However, as a result of student feedback, FLITE has since made changes to this policy.
“We have already made changes to the process and policies based on student feedback,” Garrison said. “For example: students may walk in and reserve on the spot. Students may walk in and use a study room that has not been reserved, any time the library is open.”
The ALC has also been through a large change in 2018. Previously located in the Arts and Science Commons, the ALC has since moved to the rst oor of FLITE.
“The Academic Literacies Center is a major step forward in providing academic services that all students need, in closer proximity to each other,” Garrison said. “Students may now get help with research, tutoring and writing all in one building. The Center offers new opportunities for library faculty and staff to collaborate with the tutoring and writing personnel to offer new programs and services together.”
FLITE removed 20,118 books from the building, making room for the ALC to move in. FLITE also removed nearly 8,500 outdated reference books from the building, which increased room substantially.
“Some of the books we weeded were donated to Better World Books as many other libraries do,” Garrison said. “Many were not in good enough condition to donate and were recycled.”
Kranick said she is concerned about the book removal and the number of books that FLITE got rid of.
“As for the books, it depends on what the books are,” Kranick said.
“I think students should have access to whatever is available in the library.”
For some students, the book removal has not had a negative im- pact on their learning here at Ferris.
“The changes haven’t been a huge issue for me,” Ferris construction management freshman Carter Zerona said. “I rent all my books from the bookstore, so I don’t get much use out of the books from the library.”