Media Technology Services renovated two rooms in Karrmann Library over winter break to create a “chill-out” zone on the third floor and a “U-Record” studio in the basement level.

The third floor room, formerly a small computer lab, was emptied of computers, desks and carpeting over the break. These were replaced during the first week of classes with new carpeting and new furniture.

The room is now a “bring your own device study room,” Circulation and Resource Supervisor Vicki Chase said. It features armchairs, couches and extra outlets.

Colleen Garrity, director of Media Technology Services, said she does not yet know the full cost of the room because the bills are still arriving. She estimated, however, that the furniture alone cost approximately $10,000 and the new carpet approximately $1,000. Funding for the room came from the

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Laboratory Modernization Fund Information Technology Services allocation, Garrity said.

The Laboratory Modernization Fund is money that was set aside by the campus for laboratory upgrades, director of Financial Services Cathy Riedl-Ferry said. Specifically, Riedl-Ferry said that a one-time fund was established for the 2015-2016 year from tuition carryover dollars. A portion of this was allocated to each of the colleges and to ITS. This funding will be discontinued in 2017 as part of budget reductions, Riedl-Ferry said.

A proposal for new computers for the space were initially brought before the Student Technology Advisory Committee, Garrity said, which is responsible for “prioritizing and recommending projects for disbursement of the Student Technology Fee,” according to the UW-Platteville website. Garrity, who serves as adviser for STAC, said the committee decided the lab was not being used enough to justify the expense of new computers.

Furniture was installed on Jan. 21 by Media Technology Services staff, and the room will also feature photography of campus taken by photographers from UW-Platteville University Information and Communications.

Garrity described the room as a “nice chill-out zone” for students to go, relax or work alone or in small groups. She said the project was inspired by the success of a similar study room created in Ottensman Hall over the summer break.

“We wanted to create a different environment; not so stressful, not so strict,” Garrity said.

Karrmann 103 was also renovated over the break to create a “U-Record” studio. The project was funded by a UW-System technology innovation grant that Garrity wrote. The room is intended to allow students, staff or faculty members to easily record themselves teaching, or giving a presentation, for example.

The recording equipment is already set up, so an individual simply has to plug in and then remove a flash drive after the recording. Garrity said her staff is still working out certain technology issues in the room, but it is expected to be fully operational by the end of February.

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