Library’s discarded 75-student limit promoted a positive learning environment — and should return

Photo by Annie Liu

Students struggle to find a place to stay during tutorial.

As the tutorial bell rings, students dash out of their first or second-period classes to find their perfect spot to study. Many immediately head to the library. In the early part of the year, capacity at the library was limited to 75, with assistant principal Matt Torrens using a clicker to keep track. Recently, however, that 75-person limit has been dropped because of cooler temperatures. However, the 75-person limit makes a lot of sense and should continue despite cooler temperatures.

The main reason for this suggestion is that tutorial counts as part of the school’s instructional minutes. In an effort to maintain tutorial’s status as “instructional,” the school has been implementing stricter rules around it, such as making students stay in a class for the last 10 minutes of tutorial.

The policy of limiting capacity to 75 had several noticeable benefits. First of all, the library tended to be quieter, and students were able to focus without constant voices clamoring across the library.

In addition, the library was also less crowded. In previous years, the library would run out of seats very quickly, leaving students no choice but to  sit on the floor or stand next to their friends. 

The maximum-capacity rule also allowed students to utilize the library’s resources more efficiently. The textbook checkout process was streamlined, students were able to find a spot more easily and those picking out a book were not met with groups of students blocking their paths.

Despite these benefits, the policy did have some downsides. Students who did not have a place to go during tutorial — or didn’t like staying in their first class — often use the library as a place to study or do homework. 

However, during the beginning of tutorial, many people travel in and out of the library. It was not difficult to grab a spot after another student walked out of the library. 

Furthermore, the cold winter weather concern — the reason the limit was removed — is unfounded, as there are plenty of empty classrooms. As the past has shown, students can always manage to find a place to stay in the end.

The 75-person policy allows for a more productive learning environment, promoting the academic and socioemotional setting that tutorial is meant to be used for.