By Whitney Alexander
Five levels, hundreds of shelves, thousands of books, and a countless amount of call numbers. The Y-pod can find it all.
'We don''t want people to dread coming to the library because it seems overwhelming. We want them to be excited to do research,' said Mike Hooper, communications manager of the Harold B. Lee Library.
The Y-pod, a new information kiosk, is located on the third floor of the library and is designed to provide a fast and efficient experience for students. The kiosk is a touch screen device that helps students find call number and room locations, directory assistance, floor maps and a variety of other library resources without having to ask a library employee for assistance.
Besides helping students, the kiosk will help alleviate traffic to the information center that has recently been relocated. This will allow employees to better serve students that need help with questions that cannot be answered by the Y-pod.
'We can better use their time, and still help the need to give students directional information,' said Jeff Belliston, department chair of General Information Service.
It is hopeful that the Y-pod will reduce feelings of drudgery and confusion among new and old students when frequenting the library.
'I think it is a daunting task to try to figure out what floor I need to be on and what area of that floor to find a book. The Y-pod seems like an effective tool to use to help me find my way around the library,' said freshman Rachel Calder, 18.
Besides the fact that the Y-pod is an informational tool, students who are uncomfortable with asking library personnel directions can figure things out on their own. Junior Sharee Cates agreed. 'Use the Y-pod and keep your pride! Plus, it''s definitely more convenient than having to wait in a line. You can do things yourself. Simpler is nice.'
Hooper said modern technology in the library is essential because it is a building that every student on campus will use throughout his or her educational experience.
'We''ve regularly adopted modern technology to make life easier for our patrons and continue to move in that direction,' Belliston said. 'There are students who are reluctant to ask questions. We are providing them with something they feel more comfortable with. Students would like to be more self-sufficient.'
The Lee Library hosts the only Y-pod on campus. It has been located in the library since the summer. Soon it will be followed by a second kiosk, the purchase of which has been recently approved.
In the future, the Y-pod may be equipped to give voice activated directions from a student''s location, acquire a level of intelligence to keep track of student requests, perform auto complete and keep track of information that students look for but cannot easily find.
'The whole point of the Y-pod is to find information that students want faster and easier.' Hooper said. 'The vision is that if these work out really well, there will be one on every floor.'