Student Technology Fees Awarded to Libraries for Microform Equipment, Laptop Program Expansion, Sound Equipment

To prepare for making WSU Libraries’ funding proposals to the WSU Pullman Student Technology Fee (STF) Committee in early February, Access Services staff assistants and students Patrick Bekono, Ivan Quintero, and Alizee Hargrove set up times to practice, talking about specifics on each slide to meet the time allotted to them.

Their presentation, “WSU Pullman Libraries 7-Day Circulating Laptop Proposal,” sought just over $40,000 from the committee for 30 Windows 11 laptops, carrying cases, associated power cables and adapters, and a locking storage cabinet.

While the dress rehearsal was valuable, Bekono, Quintero, and Hargrove needed to impress upon committee members the impact that funding would have on every WSU Pullman undergraduate student. All 14,178 of them.

Photo courtesy of User Colin via Wikimedia Commons.

Their proposal came down to three benefits to students: They can access technology affordably; they continue their college education and academic success with current computers; and they can learn and use the software needed for their coursework and future professions. WSU Libraries also faced increased demand for the 30 laptops now available for checkout, so doubling that number would meet students’ needs better.

“I mentioned during the presentation how the library is basically a hub for all undergrads on campus and how we are the only place on campus to offer these types of services for free, so that’s what I think really helped our proposals stand out and get the funding we needed,” said Bekono, a seasoned presenter who also participated in the libraries’ STF proposals last year.

Students successfully make additional library technology funding cases

WSU STF assistance provides technology resources for general student use. Undergraduate students are charged the fees to support access to the internet, e-mail, computer and multimedia workstations and laboratories, and computer software.

Because of student presenters’ dedicated efforts, as well as those of library staff members Amy Thielen, Brian McManus, and Jason Anderson, who guided and mentored them, WSU’s Pullman libraries received three STF awards overall.

In addition to the laptop program expansion, Pullman students Michael Grund, Caitlyn Adkinson, Gabe Heinrichs, Ari Morena, Makenah Partain, Everett Weeks, and Sebastian Compton successfully procured full STF funding of almost $15,000 for portable sound and performance equipment and music production kits for checkout to members of the WSU registered student organization Digital Audio Collective.

Members of the WSU registered student organization Digital Audio Collective, pictured with staff adviser and WSU Libraries’ Systems employee Jason Anderson (kneeling), successfully made the case in early February for full student technology fee funding of almost $15,000 for portable sound and performance equipment and music production kits for checkout. Photo courtesy of Jason Anderson.

A new $10,000 microform reader/scanner to replace one that was 15 years old and required increased maintenance was mostly funded by the STF committee after a presentation by McManus, Bekono, Quintero, and another student, Hiep Nguyen. A longtime WSU Libraries’ donor and supporter gave $3,500 to complete the purchase. The libraries has a unique microfilm collection of 320,000 items, and the new equipment will scan and digitize records that can be remediated by library staff if needed.

WSU Vancouver Library’s Sam Buechler and their colleagues Dena Madrid and Mark Hasse also received STF support to continue the library’s no-charge printing program and to expand its loaner laptop program. The no-charge printing program allows students to access printing for free, thus removing barriers to printing. The additional, newer laptops for the loaner laptop program create access to critical technology for WSU Vancouver students.

Funding from the STF committees in Pullman and Vancouver is just the first step; the WSU Board of Regents must give its final approval before the new fiscal year starts on July 1.

But it’s clear to Thielen, McManus, and Anderson that student presenters were crucial for convincing Pullman STF committee members that the libraries’ funding proposals were needed for future student success.

“Those groups did an excellent job in presenting and answering questions from the committee,” Thielen said. “The students were asked some tough questions, and they came through.”

Bekono said being behind the scenes in advocating for technology projects for students really opened his eyes on how important it is to have a student speak for what resources should be funded for other students.

“Seeing what goes into these proposals showed me that there is a much more intricate process than just ordering certain items for the campus,” he said. “Knowing that there was a whole group of people I had to present to allowed me to see that everything that I use on campus as a student was thought through and presented in a way that put students first.”