Students who frequent the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library (OWHL) may have noticed a slight change when they returned from spring break. Two new doors now separate the Garver Room, “Silent Study,” from the rest of the library. With the installation of the doors, the OWHL intends to create a quieter environment for students in the Garver Room by eliminating noise from the nearby group study areas, according to Elisabeth Tully, Director of the OWHL. Tully said that while the practicality of the barriers was the first priority, much thought also went into their appearance. The doors are made primarily of glass and have wooden details that create a window-like appearance. According to Tully, the idea for the doors originated five years ago and was proposed by the student advisory board to the library. The board was a focus group of students formed in order to help define the library as more of a place of study than a place for socializing. The plan was not put into action until last year, when Jackie Lender ’11, former Student Council Vice President, wrote an Abbot Grant to secure funding for the doors, an idea that had been on her campaign platform. Because of the library’s historical importance, the OWHL had to seek the permission of the Campus Design Review Committee, chaired by Thomas Israel ’62, Charter Trustee, before work on the installation began. “The wall separating the Garver Room from the rest of the library was originally the exterior of the building, and the places where the doors now stand were originally windows,” said Tully. “We wanted to preserve that architecture by making the doors almost window-like,” she continued. Tully said that she has already noticed several potential problems with the doors. Attempting to stay true to the library’s original architecture and maintain the doors’ window-like appearance, the OWHL chose to give the doors simple push panels on either side instead of door handles. However, the glass is now streaked with fingerprints. Tully said that many students have found the side panel too small or inconvenient and are pushing on the glass to open the door instead. Over time, the constant pressing could result in permanent scratches on the glass or dips in the material. According to Tully, librarians have also noticed that the doors close slowly. When anyone opens the doors, noise from the group study area outside the Garver Room passes through the doorway for about 20 seconds before the doors fully close. The frequent entrance or exit of students could potentially undermine the original purpose of the doors. The doors were manufactured by Custom Wood Reproductions, located in Westfield, MA. Overall, Tully said that she is surprised by the lack of response to the doors, especially because the library posted about their installation on its Facebook page over break. “One student even came up to me and asked, ‘Aren’t these doors usually open? I’ve never seen them closed before,’” said Tully.
