by Lori Gallegos
Daily Lobo
The smell of smoke can still be detected at the entrance of Zimmerman Library, and students preparing for finals are feeling the absence of one of their most important resources - a place to study.
Senior Devang Butani came to Zimmerman on Wednesday afternoon to ask when the library would open again.
"I have finals coming up, and I'm just trying to find a quiet place to study," he said. "I study here basically five days a week - until 8 or 9 every day - even Saturdays and Sundays actually, so this is a bummer."
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He said the people at the information tent outside Zimmerman suggested he try Centennial Library, Parish Library or the law library.
Provost Reed Dasenbrock sent an e-mail to registered students Tuesday night stating there were no immediate plans to re-open Zimmerman.
Bruce Neville, Interim Director of Centennial Science and Engineering Library, said he has seen twice as many students in Centennial as before the fire.
"CAPS is very busy downstairs. The computers are all full," he said. "They usually are anyway, but there are definitely a lot more people just in the building."
Despite the increase in the number of students at Centennial, Neville said the staff is doing an excellent job at handling the change.
Neville said some staff from Zimmerman have been picking up shifts at Centennial.
"We've definitely adapted," he said.
Student Jerome Chavez said he has been coming to Centennial more often since the fire on Sunday night.
"It's quiet, it has a lot of tables to study at, and it's underground," he said.
Student Bryan Evans agreed that Centennial has a good atmosphere.
"I like the light rooms, where you get the natural light coming down," he said.
Senior Peter Crespin was content studying outside by the Duck Pond.
"I like it out here," he said. "It's a nice day. Typically, I just go to Zimmerman to find research materials. I can get my stuff online."
Not everyone is happy, though.
Butani said he has not decided where to study for finals.
"I like this place (Zimmerman)," he said. "I like the conference room in there. I always go in there because I have a lot of space to study, put my books out, and the chairs are comfortable in there. It kind of sucks now. I don't really like Centennial, and the SUB is too loud for me."
Butani considered using the library in the medical school, but wasn't too happy with the prospect.
"I'd have to go all the way over there every single time, and most of my classes are over here, so it would be an inconvenience," he said. "But if worse comes to worse, I will have to go down there."
Senior Stefanie Romero said a lot of her friends do most of their studying at Zimmerman.
"Now that the fire happened, they have to find somewhere else, and usually it's either in the SUB or out here (by the Duck Pond), which can be a little irritating because it can get busy, and it's loud," she said.
Students and faculty have also had to adapt to not being able to access the materials they need since Zimmerman's closure.
Chavez said he had to find alternate materials for his work.
"I did need a journal at Zimmerman for one of my research papers," he said. "But I guess I'll just have to try to get my research online."
Neville said UNM is working hard to do what it can to help students.
"Obviously we can't get to the materials at Zimmerman, and it's the last week of classes," he said. "They (students) need those for term papers. At the moment, we're trying to get interlibrary loans to provide those materials."
Neville said on Tuesday, library staff members were able to retrieve books from Zimmerman that were ordered before Friday, and are in the process of trying to retrieve more.
