Belk Library and Information Commons has installed three cellphone charging stations on its first and second floors for student use.
Library Technology Support Technician Chris Liucci and Library Technology Support Analyst Bryan Estel installed the stations, nicknamed “Get Charged,” at the end of the spring 2013 semester.
“There are eight connections for each station,” Liucci said. “Those include the Apple 30 Pin, used for older iPhone versions, the Apple Lightning cable, used for the iPhone 5, and micro phone charger cables, used for Android based phones and non-smartphones.”
One station is located on the first floor near the fireplace and two others are located near the wrap-around seating to the right of the entrance to the second floor, Liucci said. The charging stations are first-come, first-served.
“We purchased the stations from KwikBoost at the beginning of April and then evaluated where we thought would be good locations for them,” Liucci said. “Almost immediately after the spring semester ended, we started hanging them.”
The decision to install the stations was influenced by Appalachian librarians who saw similar stations in other libraries, Liucci said.
Another major influence was the amount of requests for chargers at the circulation desk.
Liucci said that the library is definitely considering the installation of more cellphone charging stations, specifically at least two more in the basement and third floor, due to popular demand.
“The summer acted as a great test run for the chargers and now the popularity and demand have become quite high,” he said.
Liucci said that there has been a rise in requests for laptop chargers, too.
“The problem with that is the difficulty to accommodate all the different devices,” he said.
Liucci said that in order to have charging stations across campus, and not just in the library, it would be up to the specific departments to make that decision.
“The stations are a great idea to offer to students,” said Daniel Mason, senior evolution and environmental biology major. “I would like to see more throughout the library and possibly in the Student Union or buildings like Raley Hall.”
Story: GERRIT VAN GENDEREN, News Reporter
Photo: MOLLY COGBURN, Intern Photographer