Starting this year, KDI School students will enjoy improved facilities and avail of new services at the KDI School Library. A lot of changes have been introduced in response to past complaints about the facilities of the library and with the aim of helping library users to conduct their studies more efficiently.

The library now maintains a very cozy and well-organized atmosphere, which is very conducive to learning and doing research. Its being newly-furnished accomplishes this. Each reading table in the library is now equipped with a personal lamp with Optical Light Film, which is specifically designed to alleviate eye exhaustion.

Another major change is the use of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID). With RFID technology, KDI School librarians no longer need to rely on barcodes found on books, CDs, DVDs and other library items. This technology also allows library users to carry out the process of borrowing and returning library items by themselves. RFID technology is also a very effective and reliable tool for librarians during the inventory period. It helps in detecting books that were shelved improperly.

The KDI School Library has also extended its operation hours to be of better service to students. It is now open from 9:00 to 22:00, Monday to Saturday and from 12:00 to 22:00 Sundays. During examination periods, the operation hours will be extended by one hour more than last year, from 9:00 to 24:00.

There have also been new additions to the KDI School Library’s electronic resources this year. These include new Databases (DBs) such as ABI-Inform Complete, COS Scholar Universe, EconLit (Ovid SP), Oxford Reference Online, Oxford Scholarship Online, Bankscope, Mink Korea, Osiris, and Zephyr. The KDI School Library has also recently acquired the outstanding business research collection of Proquest ABI/Inform, thereby providing KDI School students with free access to over 4,055 journals covering 2,965 full-text titles on business and economic conditions, corporate strategies, management techniques and competitive and product information.

Even the student chambers and student lounge have undergone major renovations this year. In the student chambers, old desks were replaced with new ones. Rooms are now more favorable for studying and conducting group meetings since they are more comfortable. Meanwhile, the student lounge has been completely changed too. Everything is brand-new, from the television to couches, making it more inviting. Two study rooms were also constructed , which are ideal for holding study group meetings.

The renovations of the KDI School’s basic facilities such as the library, student chambers and student lounge comprise one significant part of the school’s efforts to foster a wonderful learning experience for each of its students.

By Wendy N. MONTEALTO (MPP 2009, Philippines)