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Starbucks at BSU
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Soon Boise State students will have more to read than just periodicals, reference books and encyclopedias at Albertson’s Library. Students will be able to read the Starbucks menu.
Construction for the well-known coffee chain will begin inside the Albertson’s Library around the middle of November and should be completed in January.
“They are shooting for January, but it might be longer depending on when they start construction time so it’s least disruptive to students,” Dean of University Libraries Marilyn Moody said.
The building plans show the Starbucks will be built where the periodicals once were (to the right upon entrance). Most periodicals are online-accessible now and don’t require the shelf-space they once occupied, explained Coordinator of User Services Janet Davis.
“The current plan calls for 1250 square feet,” Davis said. “It will be pretty well-constructed, with thick walls and insulation- totally enclosed.” Which, she explained, should limit possible noise problems.
But according to Moody, the first floor doesn’t need to be quiet for students.
“There are different places in the library for different kinds of activities,” Moody said. “The first floor is a busy floor, it’s not a quiet area. The third and fourth floors are for quiet.”
Coffee grinding, people chatting and other potential distractions brought about by the coffee chain’s opening don’t seem to bother library employees who hope Starbucks will liven up the atmosphere and bring more students through its doors.
“We’re hoping people will come in to get a cup of coffee and it will make them say ‘oh, I’m here, I’ve got this paper due, I’ll go find some books, some journal articles.’”
But not everyone is so warm and welcoming. Jessica Ekburg, a Moxie Java employee on the BSU campus, said some of her fellow co-workers are concerned about the coffee chain addition.
“The biggest fear is that Moxie [Java] will close,” Ekburg said.
However, Ekburg thinks there could be benefits to a Starbucks on the BSU campus.
“It’s a money-making label,” she said. “That name just makes money.”
Moody said they’re trying to build an environment within the library specifically for students to ‘hang out.’”
“We were looking to add a place with comfortable seating – now we’ll have it,” Moody said. “We’re just looking forward to the students coming in the library.”
HADLEY RUSH
Arbiter Staff
