Library coffee cart still a consideration

Walk into the library of other Kansas universities and the aroma of coffee fills the air. Walk into Mabee Library and the odor of tired students attacks the senses.

As part of the plan to make the library more inviting to students, Alan Bearman, interim dean of libraries, asked for a coffee cart to be added to the main floor.

“We are in a competition with Barnes and Noble,” said Bearman. “The library should be the center of the university. It is a community place.”

The process to get a coffee cart is not an easy one. Bearman gave his suggestion to Duke Divine, director of business services, who submitted it as one of nine capital equipment fund requests in December. Divine ranked his requests, which included repairs to facilities. The coffee cart was ranked No. 3.

Divine said that the only glitch stopping the request from being fulfilled is the budget crunch. A decision will be made by May.

“It wouldn’t look too good if a leaky roof didn’t get fixed, but they put a coffee cart in the library,” said Divine.

Chartwells, Washburn’s food service, was asked if they would be interested in supplying the cart, but they didn’t think it would be profitable. They did, however, give suggestions as to the type of cart that would work well in the library. It is estimated around $5,000. Additional costs are needed for a water line and electricity.

The six state universities have coffee in their libraries, but Divine didn’t think any of them made money by selling coffee.

“We have to look at having a coffee cart in the library as a service to our students,” said Divine.