Students waiting in line for a phone at Alderman Library only need to wait a little longer. The library has just agreed to install two new courtesy phones in addition to the one already in existence.
Courtesy phones are ROLM phones, similar to the ones found in University residence halls.
The phones, connected to the University phone system, are placed around Grounds as a free alternative to pay phones for students and faculty to check phone mail, make an emergency call or call a friend for a ride home.
Clemons Library, located next door to Alderman, has a courtesy phone on each of its four levels.
This disparity prompted Student Council College Rep. Adam Swann to propose a resolution to install additional phones.
Swann said he received many complaints from students concerning the lack of available phones at Alderman.
"People would say that the lines were very long, especially during peak hours, such as before the library closes," he said. "So I decided to see if there really was a need for new phones."
Swann then submitted a paragraph in Connections, the weekly newsletter sent out via email by the office of the vice president of student affairs.
Fifty-two students replied, everyone agreeing that more phones were needed.
"This was an incredible amount of student support," Swann said.
Council Executive Vice President Matt Madden credited much of the campaign's success to Swann's personal efforts.
"Adam pretty much spearheaded the whole effort by himself," Madden said. "It was all grassroots work on his part; he sent out the e-mail to Connections and also personally responded to each of the 52 replies."
According to Swann, Alderman was slow at first to accept the idea for the new phones.
"We ran into a little opposition when we started this campaign," he said. "The library told us that there wasn't any room, that the wiring wasn't right, but after they saw the student support, they changed their minds."
Library officials said they have contacted various agencies, including Information Technology and Communication, in reference to installing the phones.
"We have been investigating the best locations to place these new phones," said Linda Lester, director of Reference and Information Services at Alderman Library. "We always try to act on our users' best interests."
Second-year College student Sarah Hosford said the new phones will be an improvement to the library.
"I spend a lot of time studying at Alderman Library," Hosford said. "The new phones will make it much easier when I need to call someone."
Lester said it will be at least a month until the phones are in place.
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