Hanyang University (HYU) has two main libraries; one is Paiknam Academic Information Center & Library (PAICL) at Seoul campus and the other is Ansan Academic Information Center & Library (AAICL) at Ansan campus. Recently, there many problems have occurred at the ACIL on both campuses.
PAICL closes on major holidays, like Chuseok and Seollal, as well as on January 1 of each year. It also closes when the early entrance exam is administered. AAICL closes on the same days, except for the early entrance examination day. It may be just five days off out of 365 days, but a lot of students feel inconvenienced by that. “I do not exactly remember when the early entrance examination was not allowed to enter the PAICL. The early entrance examination was administered there. I was so upset about the fact that we are not allowed to enter AICL during the early entracnce exam,” said Han Ju-hee, senior in the College of Law.
Moreover, students complain about the operation hours of library reading rooms. “One day, I needed to search and check out some books in the AACIL in deadly haste, but I could not get them because I had run out of time,” said Im Hae-jin, a sophomore of Major in Mechanical Engineering. PAICL opens from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the semesters. But their operation houses are different during vacation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Im added, “No matter when it opens and closes I venture to say ‘expand’ its operation hours.”
Chronic problems, usually noise, in both AICL also cropped up. “I am dying to study peacefully in the library. But, there are all kinds of noise, such as the sound of walking on high-heeled shoes, the sound of typing on the laptop computer and sound of people talking with their friends. The noise just drove me crazy whenever I was in the reading room to study.” Said Lee Jae-hun, a senior in the Division of Architectural Engineering. He went on to say, “AAICL is crowded with student during exam period. “I could even hear noise from outside the reading room. I do not understand why the School Administration (SA) do no install soundproof walls to reduce the noise,” Lee said.
At the last election of General Student Association at Seoul Campus Change 4U, agreed on the Paiknam Academic Information Center & Library Project as one the their campaign promises. The project consists of four plans to make it a better place for student; a) installing study rooms, b) setting up the language laboratory, c) expanding the operation houses of reading rooms, d) opening the PC rooms for 24 house. However, the project is originally the agenda of PAICL. At the Ansan campus GSA brought the three electoral pledges with regard to AAICL; a) free laptop computer room, b) extension of the operation house, c) installation of desk lamps.
However, will all o these good plans be able to come true? Or, are these plans just going to burst like a bubble?
Compare with the Ansan, the Seoul campus is working hard to actualize the plan. Not only Seoul campus but also Ansan campus has project for making their AICL a better place. The project is called “INFONOPIA 2010.” “The scale of other universities. We have a goal of completing the penetration by 2010,” said Kim, it is just a plan. Which implies that is can be cancelled. “Out team has just been elected, We have enough time to work in order to project the student better.
