Big changes have come to the Chester Fritz Library’s various computer labs. With the completion of a renovation project that has been in the works for over a year, the CFL now provides access to powerful new PCs, a larger number of programs and more.
Located on the second floor, the library’s main computer lab previously consisted of 20 Windows computers and ten Mac computers that students could use. These computers were quite out of date, with some being more than a decade old. As of Feb. 20, the upgraded lab now contains a smaller but modernized collection of 14 Windows and six Mac computers. Replacing the remaining ten spots are what Will Martin, head of digital initiatives at the CFL, calls “Bring Your Own Device” seats: 34-inch monitors with thunderbolt docking capability that allows any student with a compatible laptop to connect to a much larger screen.
“You just plug [your laptop] in, and then you will have a full-size screen, a full-size keyboard, a mouse, and a camera with all of your own stuff,” Martin said.
Will Martin is the main architect behind the computer lab renovations, an idea he first began to entertain in the spring of 2024. Martin’s vision for the upgrades took shape by gauging students on what new features they wanted, asking UIT what sorts of programs are most commonly asked about, and just speaking to people he knew in the campus community to figure out what would be most beneficial to the students.
The final price of the enhancements totaled around $75,000, which was paid for with the accrued salaries of currently unoccupied staff positions at the library.
The computers aren’t the only things that are new. Along with the hardware upgrades is an extensive list of software that is now available. Some are very practical, like the whole Microsoft Office Suite and ArcGIS Pro—a digital mapping tool—while others lean towards the creative, with programs like Audacity and MuseScape allowing for audio mixing and music composition. Every computer in the library now also has access to the Adobe Creative Suite, a feature that was previously limited to just two computers in the lab’s old configuration.
“One of the things that I’ve been trying hard to do with this [update] is, I want to have more than just the basics,” Martin said. “The majority of people already have access to a computer that can do web browsing and document production with Word or Excel…What I’m hoping to do with this update is to provide more software that people don’t regularly have access to, so that they can come and use it, try it out, learn how it works.”
In addition to the main area, there are two smaller labs that have also been updated. One is on the third floor of the library, which now houses four seats, down from six. Two are full-fledged computers, and two are “Bring Your Own Device” monitors. The lab located in the Hughes Fine Arts Center will now house a single Mac PC loaded with music software and a MIDI keyboard that students can use to make their own tunes. Two of these keyboards can also be found in the main computer lab.
Martin says that several more software programs are still in the process of being implemented, and he is eager to hear about any other programs students would like to see being offered.
“We’re always interested in hearing students’ opinions and requests for the library,” he said. “I can’t promise we’ll be able to fill all of them, but we’d love to hear what you’d like, because we want to ensure that the building and its services are as useful as possible to the student body.”
Any feedback on the computer labs can be sent directly to Martin at [email protected], or students can stop by the library’s front desk to leave suggestions in person.
Quinn Berg is a Dakota Student Section Editor. He can be reached at [email protected].
