The Quiet Pulse of Campus

 

When you enter the Bloomsburg University campus, one of the first buildings you may see is the Andruss Library.  Built in 1998, the library has served as one of the most resourceful spots on campus.  Between the inviting atmosphere inside, floors dedicated to every need, and the deep dedication from every staff member, this is a place students should visit often.  

If a student ever comes in with a tough question, the help desk reports them to a very experienced man.  His name is Michael Coffta.  With a rugged, color-splotched collared shirt and aviator glasses, he gives off a slight early 2000’s vibe.  When asked about being interviewed, he sarcastically proclaimed, “About what? How AI is taking over, and I am going to have to find a new job soon?”  This humor was apparent throughout all of the conversation with Coffta, but he is also extremely knowledgeable.      

Thinking about a library, you probably think of a place with tons of books and not much else.  While the Andruss library does house over 500,000 books, it also includes 4 floors with a variety of things on each of them.  Walking throughout the bottom floor means seeing students walking around proudly wielding a coffee that came from the Starbucks inside of the library.  This floor also contains an open design with lots of furniture and places to sit and interact with others.  As you hop up the steps to the next floor, there is an apparent lowering of voices throughout the space.  Although quite open as well, it’s not near as open as the first floor.  There are many bookshelves and study spaces lining the walls.  It also contains the most beautiful part of the inside of the library, the Tiffany-Stained glass.  While able to be seen from the outside of the building, the sight from the inside is breathtaking.  As you enter the third and fourth floors, there is no longer a small hum of voices, just an occasional typing of keys or scratching of a pencil.  The third floor is where the very interesting archives of the library and cool magazines and catalogs are kept.  The rest of the third floor has many study corners and study rooms, as well as rows of books, which is also mainly what the fourth has to offer.  Looking out of the windows on the top floor means seeing a great view of the campus. Together, these floors successfully give students the option to be secluded into a silent study corner or be in an open area with low mutters and groups of people.

Beyond the thousands of books and tons of study spots live staff that want to help.  It is filled with nearly two handfuls of librarians who care deeply about students.  As Coffta puts it, “The staff does a thorough job in all they do, whether it is daily activities or helping a student.”  Many people don’t think of the library as a place to go when they need help, but the staff is extremely helpful when working with a struggling student.  When a question arises, they look through every possible source and database they can access.  He remembers a student came in asking for help with a group project.  Within seconds, Coffta had 2 reports pulled up that included every bit of information that she needed.  He explained with joy, “I will never forget how happy she was when I showed her those reports.  It was like a light bulb went off in her head.”  The moment really showed what Coffta loves most about his job.  Although, it has gotten quite difficult in recent years to obtain some of the information students need, they make sure to go through the process thoroughly and use their knowledge to help as best they can.

Though the library is still inhabited by many different students every day, it used to be even busier.  Coffta explained the days tend to go very slowly now, and they do not have much traffic.  He added, “One word to describe it is decline.  When I was hired, the place was bustling with activity.”  The staff used to break a sweat at night due to the traffic throughout their offices.  The “decline” of the library also comes from the deletion of databases and integration of AI into the world.  With more and more students taking the easier road by looking information up through AI, the library cannot afford to pay for these databases that no one uses.  When Coffta first started, they had many databases where he could get any information right away.  Now, Coffta’s selection is much more limited.  It shows how much change there has been over the 27 years of Coffta’s career.      

      Through being the cornerstone of campus for nearly 3 decades, the Andruss Library and its staff have provided tools and assistance for every student's needs.  Whether you come to the library to study or in desperate need of help on a project, they have got you covered.  Even through the deletion of databases and integration of AI into the world, the staff still takes pride in helping with the best of their ability.