Sep
13
Story/Article #1 Final Draft
September 13, 2011 | | 1 Comment
Observations of the Library- emphasis on the Spoonholder Café
Eaves dropping is many people’s favorite past time. What better place than the Spoonholder Café located in the Hickman‑Johnson‑Furrow Learning Center! Conversations are juicy, the coffee is tasty, and the bustle of students and faculty is like “people watching” at the mall. Depending on one’s mood, there are different atmospheres in the Spoonholder Café- one to meet all kinds of intentions and situations.
The Hickman‑Johnson‑Furrow Learning Center was constructed in 1913 as a gymnasium and was then converted into a library in 1955. Later, in 1984, what was known as the Petersmeyer Library was completely renovated, restored, and expanded. Then in 2005, the existing building was turned into a learning center. It is now called the Hickman‑Johnson‑Furrow Learning Center and houses the library, group study rooms, a computer lab, support services, and the Spoonholder Café. The learning center is also home to the Mass Communications department, student art displays, and the school’s radio station- KMSC.
The main entrance is very inviting. There are many types of tables and chairs to choose from- one that will surely fit every students’ needs. Not only is the seating comfortable but there is also a sitting area by a gas fireplace for those especially frigid days where a good book and a cup of hot cocoa are a must. In addition to a cozy corner, the lighting in the entry way is warm and pleasing to the eye. Different types of light fixtures fill the ceiling and do not allow for any dark study areas. The seating arrangement makes for a very nice view out over the front of campus. The picture windows give a scenic overlook of the beautiful flowers and the vast amount of green space the campus has to offer. Because the Spoonholder Café is right at the entrance, it makes for a warm welcome by the student workers at the Cafe as well as the student assistants at the front desk. There is always someone there greeting students who enter or wishing them a good day as they leave.
Even if you are not a coffee drinker, the aroma of the Spoonholder Café will draw you in every time. Whether it is the strong scent of freshly brewed coffee, or the sweet smell of blueberry muffins just like your Grandmother’s, there is one smell or another to meet your nose’s desires. When the Café is closed, the entry way does not lose its scent of coffee or baked goods. The aroma lingers on throughout the day. If the smells are not what you came for, there are always the options of listening to the whispering of students’ chatter, hearing the workers at the Café scoop up ice for drinks, or zoning out to that constant hum of the pastry fridge display in the back of your mind.
The library has always been known as a place to study, meet with groups, or simply relax in a quiet and peaceful setting. Although these activities still do take place, the Spoonholder Café is definitely a more social setting during the school day. Students and faculty come to meet with friends and classmates and may even enjoy an iced latte or sandwich while they are at it. While spending an afternoon at the Spoonholder, eaves dropping is hard to avoid and likely to occur. Conversations from “I’m so tired right now. I totally shouldn’t have stayed up until three AM doing homework” to “Look at my student ID! I was having like the worst hair day ever. I wish I could’ve taken another one” are among many random and entertaining things one will hear while at the Cafe. People gather at the Spoonholder to talk politics, homework, and weekend drama- making it the perfect place to eaves drop, or even add in your two cents to a conversation if you’re feeling nosey enough.
Comments
1 Comment so far
Good lead, and I like the way the second graf kind of steps back before going more into the description.
Show me “inviting,” or make a better connection to what comes after. Computers have a smell?
At the end, when you describe conversations, connect it to the eavesdropping you mention at the beginning. Bring it full circle.