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January 25, 2008 > News > Fondren opens 24-hour coffee and snack lounge

Fondren opens 24-hour coffee and snack lounge

By Lily Chun | Thresher Editorial Staff

The new 24-hour coffee lounge on the fourth floor of Fondren Library opened Wednesday to coffee lovers of all stripes.

So far, the machines have been an unqualified success. The library had originally planned to offer free samples of coffee through Friday, but due to an overwhelming demand it ran out of coffee to serve people by late Thursday evening. Coffee service resumed this morning, but at a cost of $1.00 per customer.

While some people feel that the introduction of a coffee machine in the library is a great idea, others feel that it could do more harm than good. Fondren Web Developer Jeff Koffler, who worked on marketing for the coffee lounge, said some librarians were unhappy with the idea of having a coffee machine within the library.

“We have some seasoned veterans in the library, and this is new to let a library allow student beverages inside,” Koffler said.

Whether or not the coffee machine stays depends on whether or not people abide by the rules of the library, he said. One such rule is that people must keep their coffee within the coffee lounge. If there are problems with spillage and mess, Koffler said the coffee machine might be removed.

Koffler said Fondren staff are concerned about people taking coffee cups around the library, not cleaning up after themselves and spilling coffee on tables.

“The librarians think [the coffee lounge] is a great idea, but there’s the danger of destroying priceless books,” Koffler said.

Though librarians have already noticed people taking coffee out of the lounge to the rest of the library, they are not saying anything about it.

“We want to see how students treat this resource,” Koffler said. “If it turns out to a sticky mess, we’re going to have to make restrictions.”

According to Koffler, the machine had to be refilled within two-and-a-half hours of its opening on Wednesday.

“We didn’t think there would be lines of people, but we have had lines,” Koffler said.

Wiess College sophomore Tiffany Kim, who sampled free coffee on Wednesday, said she liked the concept of a coffee lounge.

“The idea is kind of overdue,” Kim said. “If anything, you can use an extra adrenaline push when you’re studying, so it makes a lot of sense to have a coffee machine.”

But Coffeehouse employee Megan Hermance said the coffee lounge will not be taking the place of Coffeehouse any time soon.

“To be honest with you, everyone I’ve talked to said [the coffee] is really bad quality,” Hermance, a Baker College senior, said. “I’m not really concerned about it because everyone I’ve talked to said it’s awful.”

Nonetheless, Brown College sophomore Tim Faust, also a Coffeehouse employee, said he appreciated the library’s effort to provide late night-food and beverages.

“It’s desperately needed, and [the coffee lounge is] a step in the right direction, so I appreciated that they’re making an effort,” Faust said. “I just think that there are other ways they could have gotten more done in a better way.”

Along with coffee samples this week, students could fill out comment cards on what the price of coffee should be and what should be offered in the vending machines, which will arrive in about two weeks.

Koffler said people have been voting for coffee to be $1-1.25 per 12 oz. cup. However, Koffler said Housing and Dining will determine the price after evaluating comments.

Faust suggested that instead of offering chips and snack food, macaroni or vegetable soup should be offered in vending machines.

“But as long as there’s love inside, that’s all I care about,” he joked.

End of article

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