Underground library lab offers space, quiet
Rhett Richardson paces the first floor of the James Branch Cabell Library, frantically looking for an open computer.
The 21-year-old senior needs to type a research paper that slipped his mind, and he needs to do it fast. His class starts in less than an hour.
Rhett Richardson paces the first floor of the James Branch Cabell Library, frantically looking for an open computer.
The 21-year-old senior needs to type a research paper that slipped his mind, and he needs to do it fast. His class starts in less than an hour. Without a single computer available, Richardson gives up hope on finishing the assignment on time – that is, until a passerby notices his dilemma and offers this advice:
“Try the computer lab in the basement.”
Like Richardson, many students are unaware of the computer lab located in the basement of Cabell Library. It offers nearly 100 computers for students with a valid VCU ID.
In fact, the basement computer lab is run especially for VCU students.
The B-8 Computer Lab is on an extended/exam hours schedule through Dec. 19. Under that schedule:
Monday-Thursday – The lab is open 24 hours a day.
Friday – The lab closes at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday – The lab is open 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sunday – The lab opens at 11 a.m. and stays open until 8:30 p.m. Friday.
For more information on the basement computer lab, visit www.ts.vcu.edu/faq/labs/b8.html or call the Technology Services Help Desk at (804) 828-2227.
“This Cabell B-8 Lab was designed to provide a student-only service, whereas the VCU library first floor is open to the public,” said Vivian Pair, an analyst for Technology Services.
The service gives students exclusive access to 95 desktop computers – 86 Dell PCs and nine Power Macs.
The lab also offers more resources unavailable on the first floor. For instance, there are four pay-for-print printers, multiple scanners and an adaptive work station for people with disabilities. The computers also have additional programs installed.
“The computers contain standard Microsoft desktop suites as well as some specialty software as requested by Humanities and Sciences,” Pair said.
She is referring to statistical analysis software such as SAS and SPSS and programs like Adobe PhotoShop.
The basement computer lab offers more than special equipment and software, however. It also provides students a quiet, more focused environment.
“Upstairs, it gets really crowded, and there are people walking around all the time,” said Manasi Trivedi, the basement lab monitor. “Here, it is quite silent; you get your own little privacy.”
For an even quieter atmosphere, Manasi suggests working on a Sunday. “There are less people. It’s just the ambience. You can really focus.”
As a specialized service with so much to offer to students, it is a mystery that many aren’t even aware of the basement computer lab.
One of the reasons they may overlook the resource could be the nature of the library orientation tours. Although the library offers free tours at the beginning of each semester, the basement computer lab isn’t always one of the highlights.
“Most of the library staff members who lead the tours mention the basement computer lab. However, most tour groups are not taken into the basement,” said Donna Coghill, director of public relations and marketing for the library.
For Richardson, the knowledge of the B-8 computer lab couldn’t have come at a better time.
“The basement lab saved me on my assignment,” he said. “From now on, I’ll probably just come straight to the basement when I need to use a computer in the library.”
