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The Daily OrangeLetters: Outdated Bird Library no longer capable of meeting students' needs
By Eric Reitz
Posted: 5/7/08, 8:12 PM EST Section: Opinion
Which brings me to my last point: space. The university has been growing since my freshman year, the biggest class ever until the class of 2010, and we're still getting bigger. With the more students at SU, the library oftentimes becomes cramped, especially at the end of the semester, when you need to use its resources the most.
Though the tables on the middle of floors two through five are typically vacant, it's because the lack of power I already mentioned. We're addressing housing needs with the new dorm in front of DellPlain and additional housing efforts in the works, but we're still not addressing the need to study and/or socialize at the Library.
Don't get me wrong, the new Pages café was a good idea, and both students and faculty have used it. However, other improvements are necessary to renovate the space for use in the future.
My best case scenario would be to knock it down and build another one that is bigger, better and blacker. Wait, that's a Chris Rock line...my bad. But you know what I mean. The library is ugly, outdated and no longer fulfills our needs. So let's upgrade it.
Eric Reitz is a junior television, radio and film major. He can be reached at ewreitz@syr.edu.
Though the tables on the middle of floors two through five are typically vacant, it's because the lack of power I already mentioned. We're addressing housing needs with the new dorm in front of DellPlain and additional housing efforts in the works, but we're still not addressing the need to study and/or socialize at the Library.
Don't get me wrong, the new Pages café was a good idea, and both students and faculty have used it. However, other improvements are necessary to renovate the space for use in the future.
My best case scenario would be to knock it down and build another one that is bigger, better and blacker. Wait, that's a Chris Rock line...my bad. But you know what I mean. The library is ugly, outdated and no longer fulfills our needs. So let's upgrade it.
Eric Reitz is a junior television, radio and film major. He can be reached at ewreitz@syr.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 9
Matt
posted 5/08/08 @ 6:29 PM EST
I don't believe I.M.Pei designed Bird Library. He did design Newhouse, and I am sure there are a lot of fact checkers and editors that study there.
Mike
posted 5/09/08 @ 1:40 PM EST
Eric, you seriously need to research your topic before venting. The Bird Library was designed by King & King, a Syracuse firm. But that's just one errant detail in your letter. (Continued…)
geirgo
posted 5/14/08 @ 7:20 AM EST
Plus, Bird wasn't around in the fifties - it wasn't built until the late sixties/ early seventies.
RODBO
posted 5/18/08 @ 12:19 AM EST
I attended SU in the late 60's & early 70's & I can say for certain that the Big Bird wasn't opened until the early 70's. But let me ask you this: How much extra tuition would you be willing to pay to keep Bird open all night? If you want something in life, you should be willing to pay for it. (Continued…)
theGuy
posted 6/02/08 @ 11:49 PM EST
In my time at SU I didn't use the library too much... I know two things... 1) IM Pei designed as much of the Statue of Liberty as he did that building and 2) I still have a book that I checked out in 1989. (Continued…)
Bob Marino
posted 6/24/08 @ 4:00 PM EST
Bird was designed by local architects King & King. It opened in 1972. (It even had a bridge to an entrance on University Place.) At the time, the university estimated it would eventually need 3 additional "Bird Libraries" over time but that was before the digital revolution. (Continued…)
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