JRN 200 Fall 2017

According to MSU senior Caiden Pietrowski a traditional library is a place with a lot of books that is simply a large information database. Pietrowski said he thinks of a typical city library that may not have a lot of interactivity available for patrons. Junior Kristianna Ballnik said she imagines a traditional library to be like "the Library of Congress ...and people studying all over the place, really quiet." Ballnik said it is a place of history with large, imposing book shelves requiring ladders to reach the top. It is a solemn and museum like place that can seem uninviting to the typical person.

Michigan State University is breaking the mold on what people traditionally believe libraries to be said MSU junior Kristianna Ballnik. The library has "all kinds of amenities" for students who will spend large parts of their days there she said. She has seen people sleeping, eating, studying, socializing and almost living in the library. "It's just a lot more comfortable than the original picture I have of a library" Ballnik said. She said the MSU library is louder and more accepting of food and drink , as well as being busy late into the night. Senior Caiden Pietrowski said a modern library "offers a collaborative space for students to... study together." He said a library like MSU has interactive learning environments for media in both digital and traditional text formats.