Library Reference Area

I decide to observe people at the computers in the library. I intend to sit at one of the study tables on the north end of the reference area so that I can watch people working at the computers. However, there is someone sitting at the table reading, so I look around. The best option seems to be to take a computer at one of the tables. I think I might have taken the last one available. The reference area has book cases holding periodicals on the south and east sides. The walls have windows, but there isn’t a lot of light that is let in. The pictures of the current and former university presidents hang on the north wall. There are study carrells around the outside walls on the south and east. The carpet is worn but not terrible.
A few students wander through looking for open computers.

A student from my public speaking class walks in, stops near the printers, looks around and leaves. She doesn’t notice me or at least act as though she saw me or recognized me. I feel guilty that I might be taking a computer she could use.

Man comes in, stands looking at people, looks at librarian, his phone, then talks to Reference Librarian.

An African American man comes and takes a computer at the middle table. I think that probably is the last one. Oh, no, there had been a woman in what looked like surgical garb using it.

Caucasian man and woman come in, talk to ref. lib. She gives them directions to somewhere.

Big guy stops, looks at tables, leaves.

One man prints something, scanning over the tables as he walks to the “print server.”

I’ve noticed that individuals looking for computers walk to the reference desk or just past it, and then scan the tables for an open computer. If a seat is empty, they walk by the computer to see if it is in use or free.

People working on the computers interact with notes or a textbook and the computer. The man next to me gets out a calculator and uses it, alternating with the computer. Both he and the woman on my right have phones on the table in front of them or next to the keyboard. Most people have some books, a notebook or even (in one case) a scrap of paper that they are using in addition to working on the computer. Several people have cell phones next to their keyboard.

1:05pm A blonde woman walks from the hallway by the copier scanning the tables, sees an open computer and comes by to sit down. She logs in, and then works with her phone while the computer boots up. She sets her phone next to the keyboard as well.

1:10pm The woman on my right enters something into her phone. I don’t know if she’s texting or if she’s using a calendar because she seems to be writing something in a hard copy calendar as well.

1:11pm Several men and one woman walk through, looking for an open computer. One man stands at behind me, leaning on the stacks, waiting until a computer opens up.

1:12pm, a man leaves the table next to me and the man leaning at the stacks immediately moves to stand behind him, taking the computer when it is vacated.

1:14pm Two people print documents. The blonde woman at the middle table is texting or something. She does this for some time.

1:16pm a woman on her cell phone walks in, talking quietly. Seems like she’s looking for a computer, but walks to the stacks. Perhaps she’s looking for a periodical.

1:17pm blonde woman is texting, as is the woman on my right. The guy on my left is using his calculator.

1:18pm. Man on my left gets out a textbook of some kind. Woman on my right is writing notes in a notebook. A second woman at my table is printing something.
No one makes eye contact with anyone when they are at the computers. No one interacts with others at the computers, either. We are all working on our own projects.

1:20pm Reference librarians are talking. The man who had come at the beginning just left after talking to her for about 15-20 minutes. Man two spots to my left messes with his phone and puts it back in his pocket.

1:22pm. Woman on my left must be done. She packs up her stuff and leaves, carrying her phone and “typing on it.”

1:23pm woman who was printing puts away her notebook and gets up. A man stands behind her waiting , and sits down at the computer as soon as she leaves. They don’t acknowledge each other.
A man with a notebook full of academic articles sits down on my right.
A librarian walks through with a cup of coffee, doesn’t look at anyone.

1:25pm A tall woman in a green NDSU sweatshirt with a yellow NDSU backpack walks in and paces back in forth a couple of times looking for a computer. Once again I feel guilty for taking up a spot. It is easier to type my field notes, though. This person shows the most expression of unhappiness I have seen so far at not being able to access a computer.

I sort of make eye contact with most of the people as they walk through, but I’m not sure if they make eye contact with me. If they do, the contact is quite brief. These people are looking for a computer, not interpersonal communication.

1:27pm man on my left is typing on his phone.

1:29pm. Man leaves middle table. A guy who walked through once, sat and read at one of the tables, and then got up to leave walks back and takes a computer just vacated by someone.

1:30pm. Reference librarian is staring into space. Looks around, then looks at some work. Another librarian walks up and they make brief conversation.
Several individuals print documents.

1:34pm. Man on my left pops his back.

1:36pm. A woman tentatively walks up and tries a computer opposite me. It apparently doesn’t work because she immediately stands up and leaves, defeated. A man two spots to my right, who replaced the woman with the notebook, printed several things on the color printer and now prints something on the black and white printer. He must be done because he’s putting things in his backpack and now gets up to leave.

Blonde woman at the next table is typing on her phone again.

1:39pm. A woman in sweat pants an and NDSU shirt takes the empty computer at my table. She logs in

1:40pm. Man two spots to my left (East Grand Forks shirt) types on his phone.
Printing has increased in the last few minutes. There seems to have been a steady trail of individuals to the print server computer, but no line as of yet.

A woman in blue surgical garb and a sweater walks up and waits for another woman, who seems to be done, but then takes another computer when it becomes available. The woman who seemed to be done had just printed something and started to stand next to the computer and type, but then she sat down.

EGF shirt gets a phone call and walks off to talk privately.
There now is a steady stream of people looking for computers.
Another librarian walks by (jean jacket), casually looking at one or two people at my table, and smiling, but then disappears around the corner past the stacks.

1:45pm. I need to go because I want to get to class early today. There doesn’t seem to be any sense of urgency from the people using the computers, but there is more activity. There are more people moving around and leaving or walking through to access a computer. I pack up my stuff and log off, and as soon as I move away from my chair, someone takes my spot.