The Observer, March 7, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 20
International flavor covers KSL lower level
Renovations at KSL might remind students more of their local Starbucks than a campus library. Futuristic diner-style benches line KSL's lower level, where students can stop in and grab a cup of vending-machine coffee to caffeinate themselves while they study or do homework. The background noise to these academic pursuits is SCOLA, the international television network, playing on a new plasma-screen TV. This broadcast is part of a movement by KSL to establish an environment that caters to the international community.
SCOLA plays news broadcasts 24/7 from countries including Croatia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Serbia. Broadcasts switch roughly every thirty minutes.
Foreign languages can also be picked up at an international newspaper stand. Over a dozen different newspapers are printed daily in the news commons with a subscription from PressDisplay, an online resource for world papers. "I appreciate the ability to connect and stay current with my foreign roots on a day-to-day basis with the current editions of the Hindustan Times available each day," said sophomore Shalin Patel. The printed foreign newspapers remain in the shelving bins for about a week or so before being discarded.
Online, students maintain the ability to gain an even greater abundance of international flavor. PressDisplay provides access to papers for up to 60 days past their publication. Students are able to read over 500 newspapers in 37 different languages, with foreign characters able to be translated to familiar letters and numbers.
Joanne Eustis, university librarian, took special interest in the lower level of KSL. She felt it needed to be remodeled in a unique manner. Her vision has prompted the removal of the individual carrels and the placement of modern furniture.
"The new furniture in the basement of KSL has been really nice. It gives everyone a more relaxed environment but it is still a nice quiet place to study. The only thing I can hope for now is more reliable vending machines that won't break or run out of caffeine the nights before midterms and finals," said sophomore Kabir Gulati.
"The new couches provide unique comfort. It is unfortunate there are so few available," said sophomore Esha Pillai. Whiteboards and projectors complement individual study rooms that are also on the lower level. Eustis hopes that will "appreciate the opportunity to globally connect students to the bigger international student community."
An international bulletin board will make its way to the wall space in the lower level. Students will be able to find information about study abroad trips as well as information pertaining to international student groups.
The international language center stems from the Freedman Digital Library, Language Learning, and Multimedia Center, which has a heavy focus on technology and digital resources. The library staff hopes to provide more print newspaper resources for students to appreciate daily, and incorporate other services and resources for students to learn about other languages and cultures.
On March 20, Kelvin Smith Library will hold a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. to inaugurate the International News Commons in the lower level. Fitting to the international theme, varied international food will be available to graze on as well as freebies. Faculty from the modern languages department as well as the political science department will be invited to the launching of this international service. All students are also welcome to attend.
Librarians and staff will be showing features of the SCOLA channel on the plasma screen and the MediaVision Courseware site, where SCOLA programs can be viewed, including those in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. Librarians will also present the PressDisplay online foreign newspapers, and provide demonstrations of other newspaper resources for study and news. More information about the International News Commons is available from the KSL homepage under the Services link, at http://library.case.edu/ksl/services/newscommons/.
