No more computers in the library? On the 19th, Ms Phoebe Darwin, Vice-Principal of Student Life has introduced a new policy aimed at regulating electronic device usage during lunchtime to encourage more face-to-face interaction. This shift has had widespread ramifications across student life, disrupting a routine that many at Saints have been accustomed to for years. The learning commons, previously relied upon as a productive study space, has undergone drastic environmental changes as a result.

Here is what librarian Mr. Morris had to say regarding his initial thoughts on the initiative: “My initial stance on the laptop policy, when it was allowed in the learning commons, was that I was for it because I think the library should be a place where kids can come and do quiet work if they please.”

As the term progressed, however, the atmosphere shifted, with Mr. Morris and frequent library patrons remarking on the changing nature of the space: “Lunchtime and Connection Block weren’t really turning into a place that had quiet work. It was a bit too chaotic and there wasn’t enough supervision. I think second-floor Tang offered better alternatives for us.”

Mr. Morris expressed sympathy regarding the lack of available spaces for students who rely on technology to complete coursework, stating: “While I feel bad that there are no laptops in here right now at lunch because that’s the new policy, I don’t feel great about it, but I can see the reasoning behind it.”

According to Mr. Morris, the policy must be observed over a longer period to gauge its long-term effects.