Photo credit: Gary Daught
Received Sept. 12:
I have a couple of comments regarding the Sept. 10 article covering the library in The Stampede. First, I was the one who provided the photograph that was included in the article. So the photo credit should have been attributed to me. Second, your lead sentence includes some technically misleading details.
It is beyond question that increases in Milligan’s enrollment has certainly contributed to increased use in the library. But as I indicated in my original response, usage of the Library increased 29 percent this last year over 2010-11. If you checked, you would have discovered that Milligan’s enrollment increased only 3.8 percent. Increased usage is clearly a result of factors other than just enrollment. (We would like to think that part of this is the result of efforts we have made to create a more welcoming environment.)
Finally, it might be more correct to say that some students are finding the library too crowded. As I mentioned, we received our first complaint only last year. Most students still appear to be adequately satisfied. Indeed, after 3 weeks into the fall semester usage is already running 6 percent above this same period last year.
All this being said, I appreciate hearing students say they’d like to see a bigger library. We would too!
Gary Daught
Director of Library Services
P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library
milliganstampede
