Students are using The University of Tennessee’s John C. Hodges Library more than ever. The library has witnessed increasing rates of circulation, as well as greater student presence.

During academic year 2004 to 2005, the library recorded 1.7 million students entering the building. The next academic year, 2005 to 2006, entrances increased to 1.8 million. More students are checking out books, as well. The library has seen a 79 percent increase in circulation compared to last year.

“The Commons is one factor,” Dean of Libraries Barbara Dewey said.

Last year, the library converted the reserves and periodicals sections on the second floor of Hodges Library into The Commons. Open 24 hours, students can find work stations, laptop checkouts and media access — resources unavailable in the past.

Starting this year, The Commons linked up with OIT to more easily serve students. OIT moved from the small confines of Aconda Court to the more spacious Commons, where they now have more room to work with students.

The Commons houses an 80-station computer lab, 35 loaner laptops, a room — equipped with a big-screen TV and a Smart board — for practicing presentations and access to The Studio for multimedia purposes.

Beginning last semester, students are now able to take laptops out of the library for up to four hours to use for class presentations.

Now, the library offers beepers, similar to those given in crowded restaurants, for students in need of a laptop when there are none available. Once a laptop becomes available, the beeper will go off.

“It’s not as expensive,” Dewey said about the new technology and services.

Students can also check out books at night, even while the circulation desk is closed.

Two full-time library personnel staff The Commons through the night, as well as one or two community service officers. OIT has two personnel at their desk all night, as well.

In the library, students will also find an English Writing Center and a Stat Lab to help with statistics homework.

“The students are telling us they are really enjoying the laptop checkouts and getting books throughout the night,” Dewey said.

To make work even easier, the computers in The Commons are now Microsoft Office-capable, a feature they did not have two years ago.

“Because of the heavy (use) of the library, we’re trying to improve the study spaces all we can,” Dewey said.

One problem around The Commons is the noise.

“The Mary E. Greer Room has been designated a quiet study area,” Dewey said.

Students distracted by the noises of the second floor can escape to this room and study in peace, she said.

The addition of The Commons is not the only contributing factor to the increased use of the library.

“Our students are more serious students,” Interim Associate Dean of Libraries Jill Keally said. “They’re here to study. They find us a good place to meet — it’s the extended hours.”

The library also offers classes and in-house workshops. One course teaches how to effectively use Google, another to construct databases and another on biology.

“You don’t graduate from the library,” said Blue Dean, director of development for Hodges Library. “You’d be hard-pressed to graduate without the library.”

Dean Dewey said every month she meets with an advisory committee composed of students appointed by the deans of their respective colleges. During the meetings, they give her suggestions on how to better serve students, and they recommend areas for improvement.

“It really helps us develop our services from a student perspective,” Dewey said.

The committee suggested that the library bring in furniture more conducive to laptop use. Dewey said she took the proper action.

They are still looking into ways to better serve students. The library has plans to replace some of the furnishings with more comfortable arrangements that will be aimed toward group study.

“We want to replace some of the equipment and furnishings that aren’t used as much with better equipment and study spaces,” Dewey said.