Library “micro café” gets new look

Welcome to The Coat Closet Café!

For the last year or so the Library has provided a self-service coffee kiosk in the old coat room on the Main Floor across from the desk of the Public Services Librarian. Recently, the room got a fresh paint job (including a red accent wall) and we’ve hung a sign over the doorway to give our “micro café” a more official coffee shop look and feel. We are calling our space The Coat Closet Café.

The self-service kiosk is open Monday through Friday, and offers two blends of coffee fresh brewed twice a day, and hot water for tea. The price for coffee and tea is only fifty cents a cup. You can also purchase Coke products and snacks from machines in this space.

The Library is pleased to offer this service, and it has worked hard in recent years to remove long-standing barriers to allowing food and drink in the building. Says Library Director Gary Daught, “This is one way to make the Library a more welcoming and inviting place for students. The only thing we ask is that persons clean-up after themselves before they leave.” Trash cans are provided in various places throughout the building.

Public Services Librarian Jeff Harbin enjoys a cup of joe.

In many ways the presence of The Coat Closet Café is a gesture pointing to an eventual goal that will see a full-service coffee shop within the Library building. The Library renovation plan, which is a key component of the new capital campaign, actually includes space for a coffee shop. “This is part of a changed philosophy of what libraries are and do today,” says Daught. “A library is no longer only about warehousing information resources. Yes, libraries will always include information resources, in both print and electronic formats. But libraries today, and academic libraries in particular, are expanding their role to include welcoming spaces for teaching and learning. This philosophy appreciates that teaching and learning happens best in a relaxed, inviting atmosphere, which includes both social interaction and a ‘domestic’ dimension. That’s where the coffee comes in. The Coat Closet Café is one step toward putting this philosophy into practice.”

1st Annual Homecoming Library Book Sale a success!

The P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library teamed-up with the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society on October 23-25 to put on the 1st Annual Homecoming Weekend Library Book Sale. The sale got off to a wonderful start with a two hour faculty preview on Thursday afternoon that raised over $350. (What college professor can resist buying more books?!) Continuing all day Friday, and concluding at noon on Saturday, the sale raised over $960. A quarter of the proceeds was given to Phi Alpha Theta for their assistance with the sale, and the balance of the money goes back into the Acquisitions budget for the purchase of new books and media for the Library.

The books and media collected for the sale over the course of several months came from duplicates and other titles “weeded” from the Library collection, and titles donated by individuals that did not fit Library collection guidelines. Old Milligan College yearbooks that had been stored in the Library over the years were also offered for sale.

Library Director Gary Daught hailed the sale a success, with special thanks offered to Public Services Librarian Jeff Harbin, several Library student workers, and members of Phi Alpha Theta (including our Archivist Ginger Dillon) for helping with organizing, setup, and manning the cash box. “This was a fun event,” said Daught. “It connected the Library to the Homecoming Weekend activities and gave us some visibility. It was a great opportunity to meet people, and raise a little money for the Library and Phi Alpha Theta. We look forward to putting on a sale again next year!”

Finish the semester strong!

The Library can help you survive these last few weeks before break with nary a scratch. Need help with papers or projects? Library staff members are on hand from 5-10 pm Monday-Thursday and 7-10 pm Sunday to help you with all your research needs (and the library stays open until midnight those nights, too). Staring down an all-nighter? We have coffee and tea to help you stay up ’til the job’s done. You can even use IM reference to talk to us from the comfort of your dorm room.

Hope to see you soon!