I occasionally use the computers in the "cafe" in the lower level of Crear and notice that the keyboards are absolutely disgusting. This makes me not want to use them at all... I like using the computers in the USITE cluster, but you cannot drink coffee! Is there some way we can get some new keyboards..it's really disgusting.
Also, why is the cafe never open??
A two-part question deserves a two-part answer. The computers (and keyboards) are under NSIT's control, and Ben Chandler at USITE ably steps in with the answer:
"I must say that I firmly agree with you. Those keyboards and mice are indeed gross and need to be replaced. I'm not sure if you are aware, but USITE operates most of the Webstations around campus. I have been replacing the old/dirty keyboards (trying to get to the most used machines first) and have now run out of spares. New keyboards have already been ordered and those in Crerar are on top of my list for replacement once they arrive. In the future, I hope that the quality of the hardware does not deteriorate as quickly as in the past, but grimy fingers and public keyboards are a dangerous mixture."
On to the second part: the long-shuttered Crerar cafe. The vendor who has operated the cafe wasn't able to make a profit in recent years and closed the service. (CIS-related construction killed a lot of the foot traffic into Crerar.)
The Library and NSIT have looked into reopening the cafe, but vendors are reluctant to staff the space until it's clear that enough people are using Crerar to support a cafe. We'll be looking at Crerar entrance counts at the end of Fall Quarter to see if there are improvements in the number of people using the library.
Fortunately or unfortunately, there are several other cafes around (the Bookstore, the little coffee kiosk in the Brain Research Pavilion, the Au Bon Pain outposts in Mitchell and Comer Hospitals, plus a new cafe in the CIS building). The variety is nice for customers, but the competition is fierce.
