Students studying at the library finally have a way to refresh themselves thanks to a new caf?, featuring Starbucks coffee and espresso, which opened Tuesday.
Steven Hugg, director of marketing and business development for Sodexho, said the caf? will use Starbucks products, but allow for the sale of other items and for pricing to be adjusted to the College's standards.
In addition to hot drinks, the caf? will carry Starbucks iced and frozen beverages, fresh fruit smoothies and frozen yogurt, Hugg said.
According to Paula Rainey, library program assistant, plans for the caf? were included with the blueprints for the New Library. However, time was needed to set up the area and plan how the service would be run before the area could be put to use as a caf?.
Drinks are still banned outside of the caf?, Rainey said, because there are too many books that are too old or valuable to risk spills and stains.
"(Students) can just relax and get their drinks," Rainey said. She also said she expects many students to bring their laptops into the caf?, creating a new study area.
The caf? is also creating several opportunities for student employment, Hugg said. In addition to two full-time Sodexho employees, 14 students were trained to work part-time at the caf?, and two business students are interning as managers.
Caf? hours are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is currently no news on whether or not the caf? will have later hours during finals week, when the library is open 24 hours.
