FJU Library: New Facilities and Future Plans
By Catherine Chiang
This semester, new facilities including a film studio and video editing rooms are set up in Fu Jen University’s libraries through efforts of the library staff in order to provide a more diverse self-learning environment for students.
Located on the fourth floor of the Fahy Library and originally a group study room, the film studio was an additional function of the large room. With green and blue screens that can be scrolled up and down electronically, the studio serves as the perfect place for students to record their videos and film assignments via the chroma key technique. On the second floor, students will find four video-editing rooms which include dual-screen computers and multimedia software such as PowerDirector 18 and Premiere Pro. During noontime, the rooms are used as classrooms for the English Writing Center, and at other times, students can work on their video projects. In addition, LCD screens with HDMI cables are installed in some of the group discussion rooms. By plugging in their laptops and phones, students can work on their presentations with visual aids. |
Library director Shun-De Chen, photograph by Catherine Chiang
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Thanks to the library director and staff, students can now gain access to these useful facilities. “Since libraries are the last facilities to be closed on campus, we figured that installing new facilities in the libraries would be more convenient. Students are allowed to use these rooms whenever the libraries are open,” said the library director, Shun-De Chen. As the rooms were previously used only for class and discussion at certain times, it seemed a waste of these resources when they were not being used. He added that, “there are currently about ten to twenty courses on campus that require video-making projects, and students need these facilities.” Thus, the idea of adding filming and video-editing functions to these rooms came to the director's mind.
When asked about the challenges of managing the libraries, he expressed that his biggest challenge is running the three libraries altogether with limited funding. Not only do facilities require high costs, personnel expenses also account for a big part of the total expenditure. The director even has to hire a few extra people to manage each library. "The minimum wage for part-time workers increases each year," he said, "and that is why we have to cut down on the opening time of the KungPo Library." Surprisingly, there are only around twenty staff members in charge of running the libraries. They handle various tasks such as purchasing books and databases, recommending and promoting books and resources, making tutorials for resource utilization, and much more. Though a small workforce, the staff puts in considerable efforts in maintaining and upgrading FJU's libraries.
When asked about the challenges of managing the libraries, he expressed that his biggest challenge is running the three libraries altogether with limited funding. Not only do facilities require high costs, personnel expenses also account for a big part of the total expenditure. The director even has to hire a few extra people to manage each library. "The minimum wage for part-time workers increases each year," he said, "and that is why we have to cut down on the opening time of the KungPo Library." Surprisingly, there are only around twenty staff members in charge of running the libraries. They handle various tasks such as purchasing books and databases, recommending and promoting books and resources, making tutorials for resource utilization, and much more. Though a small workforce, the staff puts in considerable efforts in maintaining and upgrading FJU's libraries.
The film studio in Fahy Library, photograph by Catherine Chiang
Speaking of future plans, the director shared his thoughts on possible alterations. For the KungPo Library, the computer area and reading area on the second floor would be separated, along with the rearrangement of the tables and chairs. As for the Cardinal Shan Library, its fifth floor would be reconstructed into a reading area with an access control system. This area is separated from the stack section on the third and fourth floor, and would be available seven days a week. "When students come to the libraries, they are mostly there to study for exams, not to borrow books," he explained, "so once the reading area is complete, the stack section of the Cardinal Shan Library would be closed on Sundays." There would be an estimated 200 seats in the place, which he said would definitely be enough for the weekend crowd.
Furthermore, a majority of the libraries' books are left unused after purchase. To make better use of these resources, the director plans to hold a book recommending competition among FJU students. Each participant should make a short video introducing a book that they recommend. The director also hopes to organize book fairs at the entrance of the Fahy Library, where he would invite booksellers to exhibit publications at the start of each semester. The books would mostly be for exams and teaching, and if students find books they are interested in, they can fill out the purchase requisition form on the spot. All of the publications for exams can later be found in a separate area, and part of them can be taken out.
In hopes of building a better environment for reading and studying, the library staff try to provide the best facilities possible under limited space and funding. With the ongoing facility upgrades, students and staff would certainly find FJU's libraries more convenient and comfortable than before.
Furthermore, a majority of the libraries' books are left unused after purchase. To make better use of these resources, the director plans to hold a book recommending competition among FJU students. Each participant should make a short video introducing a book that they recommend. The director also hopes to organize book fairs at the entrance of the Fahy Library, where he would invite booksellers to exhibit publications at the start of each semester. The books would mostly be for exams and teaching, and if students find books they are interested in, they can fill out the purchase requisition form on the spot. All of the publications for exams can later be found in a separate area, and part of them can be taken out.
In hopes of building a better environment for reading and studying, the library staff try to provide the best facilities possible under limited space and funding. With the ongoing facility upgrades, students and staff would certainly find FJU's libraries more convenient and comfortable than before.