Front-door gate counters at the Texas A&M University Libraries are recording more walk-through traffic than usual. Contributing to the increase is the largest freshman class, ushering in more than 8,000 new students this fall, and the recent closing of the Memorial Student Center (MSC) for renovations.

During September, the Sterling C. Evans Library saw more than 5,000 people walk through its doors on a daily basis. That’s a 24 percent increase from this time last year. West Campus Library (WCL) saw more than 3,500 people daily, a 23 percent increase from last September.

“We’re happy to accommodate the MSC carryover as a place to study and hangout,” Dennis Clark, head of Public and Research Services in Evans Library, said. “Students have always come here for our collections, but the library has become something even greater. Students pay fees to use this space, and I think it’s great they are finding multiple uses for the library.”

Activity has also increased at the West Campus Library with the addition of the Tutor Zone, formerly a service provided in the MSC, according to Leslie Reynolds, senior head for Collections and Services and director of the WCL.

“We’re working with the Tutor Zone to provide free tutoring to students three evenings a week,” she said. “We've been so busy, they had a hard time finding a place to set up, so we opened up a room for them. They are thrilled with the location and we are happy to be able to provide this service in our facility.”

Both Clark and Reynolds said the open access computers in the libraries are a big draw for students, as well as the group study rooms.

“I think we could double our space and add 25 more group study rooms and still end up disappointing people during the busiest times,” Reynolds said.

Clark said the open access computers in Evans are always in use and he frequently sees lines forming for some of the newer computers.

“We’re seen as one of the better computer labs on campus, because the library spaces are more comfortable and inviting than some of the labs devoted to computer access only,” he said.

Along with the increase in foot traffic, circulation of books has been on the rise at 11 percent, and the use of self-checkout machines is up 30 percent.

Get if for me, formerly the popular service deliverEdocs, has risen in popularity by 27 percent since its name change and addition of campus mail delivery of materials to faculty.

Media and Reserves has seen the biggest increase in activity with a 153 percent increase in circulation of media items and course reserve materials.

Clark said the Reimagine the Library initiative to redesign the first floor of Evans will streamline services even more and bring about more access opportunities for students, like more computers and lounging areas. And with completion of the redesign anticipated for fall 2010, a new freshman class is likely to set the gate counters soaring again in record numbers.