Students express concern about lack of available library computers

The recent increase in enrollment raises concerns that the computer labs located in the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library may need to add more computers to fit the growing amount of students.

Students are concerned with limited and often broken computers inside UH’s main library.

“They could have more,” finance sophomore Amar Abdilahi said.

There are currently 250 computers in the academic research area, 36 computers located in the learning commons that are equipped with special software and 8 limited-access computers.

The availability of computers is a main concern for some students. Sometimes students are found lurking around the labs waiting for a vacant spot.

Though many have voiced their concerns of the quality of computers and its limited access, the staff does not feel that there are many problems.

“They aren’t broken very often,” said Jerry Buckner, computer engineering tech senior and a full-time library employee. “If they are, the turn around is maybe an hour. They get fixed very quickly.”

Students like kinesiology junior Abdul-Rahman El-Bakry feel otherwise. He said that at times there has been six or seven computers down at the same time.

During certain hours, computers in the learning commons are simply not available, leaving some students without a computer to use.

Despite the problems, many students find the labs beneficial and are content with the services they receive from the University.

“I love the convenience of the computers here in the library and the fact that I have 500 free prints a semester,” political science freshman Paul Carter said. “I have never had any real issues with (the computers).”