Analysis of Alden Library as a Public Space:
Village Idiots
Alden is a controlled public space due to the fact that it is run by the university and was specifically designed to meet the needs of the students. It is private property, which means the university can restrict who is permitted on the premises. There is also a social understanding that dictates the behavior displayed in different parts of the library.
The second and fourth floor are designed to promote conversation and group-oriented work. They are also the floors that house tutoring sessions. They are informal, casual, and tend to also involve socializing and conversations that may not be related to academics. The physical layout of these floors are open, bright, and contain many desks, chairs, and computers.
Mitchell refers to Representations of space as “planned, orderly, and safe. Users of this space must be made to feel comfortable” (115). When designers are planning a public space they must accommodate for many different types of people. In Mitchell’s article he discusses how a public space is also used for many different reasons, he discusses how the Greek agora was used as an open space for public affairs/legal disputes but also a place for people to mingle. In a way you can see this on various floors in the library. It is more appropriate to mingle or work with groups on the 2nd and 4th floors but if you were working with a group on one of the silent floors it would not be acceptable.
Alden is a representational space that is serves the purpose of studying academic resources and literature. Even though Alden is a place to study, other activities take place here. Alden is a very social space. Even though this may not have been its intended purpose, Alden is a place where you meet new friends and old friends. It is a very unique place on campus because we think the student body (race, gender, background) is well represented here. A lot of minority groups gather together here unlike they do in some other places on campus. Alden creates a safe, welcoming environment. We think minorities are more comfortable here because the only criteria you have to meet to fit in is to be affiliated with Ohio University. The way the space is used definitely supports the design of Alden. There are always people working on academic work. Tutoring and study rooms are also available. A group that is not well represented in Alden is the local people of Athens. Locals can gain access to all of the amenities alden has to offer, but we assume they feel out of place since they are not part of the university, and do not feel welcomed or comfortable here.
The sixth and seventh floors are designated as “quiet floors” that provide silent, study-conducive spaces for students who are there to focus solely on their work, and not talking to other people. If someone is speaking on these floors, others on the floor will ask them to be quiet, or multiple people will project dirty looks. These floors have large bookshelves that divide the floors and act as barriers to separate people from one another. Other floors may have rooms that clearly state that they are “Very Quiet Study” and have signs that state that cell phone conversations in these rooms are prohibited. These rooms have cubicle-like desks that discourage conversing with other people in the room.
Mitchell refers to Representations of space as “planned, orderly, and safe. Users of this space must be made to feel comfortable” (115). When designers are planning a public space they must accommodate for many different types of people. In Mitchell’s article he discusses how a public space is also used for many different reasons, he discusses how the Greek agora was used as an open space for public affairs/legal disputes but also a place for people to mingle. In a way you can see this on various floors in the library. It is more appropriate to mingle or work with groups on the 2nd and 4th floors but if you were working with a group on one of the silent floors it would not be acceptable.
Alden is a representational space that is serves the purpose of studying academic resources and literature. Even though Alden is a place to study, other activities take place here. Alden is a very social space. Even though this may not have been its intended purpose, Alden is a place where you meet new friends and old friends. It is a very unique place on campus because we think the student body (race, gender, background) is well represented here. A lot of minority groups gather together here unlike they do in some other places on campus. Alden creates a safe, welcoming environment. We think minorities are more comfortable here because the only criteria you have to meet to fit in is to be affiliated with Ohio University. The way the space is used definitely supports the design of Alden. There are always people working on academic work. Tutoring and study rooms are also available. A group that is not well represented in Alden is the local people of Athens. Locals can gain access to all of the amenities alden has to offer, but we assume they feel out of place since they are not part of the university, and do not feel welcomed or comfortable here.
