David Robinson

robinson@mtsu.edu

Don Craig

Library

Open computer labs

Walker Library Room 244

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Student surveys, focus groups, and meetings we have held with student representatives tell us that there is a great need for additional and more diverse access to technology in the library. Students have asked for more computers in the library, Macintosh computers, and multimedia production software. We propose to replace 23 computers with thin-client workstations. This is a cooperative proof-of-concept project in cooperation with ITD and ties in with ITD's plan to implement a blade server/thin client solution for the labs. The old computers will be relocated to carrels in the Microtext area replacing existing microfilm readers. The microtext equipment, which is over 10 years old, is obsolete and should be discarded. We will replace that equipment with two ScanPro readers that will be able to handle all microform formats in the library, and will facilitate printing through another GoPrint release station. Concurrent with replacing the microtext equipment, we propose to initiate the implementation of a multimedia production lab. We will install 10 higher-end Dell PCs and 14 Macintosh computers, both with high-end graphics cards and large monitors. Some of these computers will be equipped with Adobe Creative Suite, and the rest will be equipped with open source multimedia software.