The library must get some comfortable seating.

Currently the most comfortable place to study on campus is on your own bed in your own room. Off-campus students don't have that option. And sometimes on-campus students can't use their rooms.

Students need a comfortable alternative. How about the library?

The library used to have several extremely comfortable couches. But not any more.

One wet September afternoon, three Multnomah students sat in the library and wondered: "Why is there no comfortable place to study in the library? Shouldn't the library be the place to study on campus? There's no place to enjoy a good book. Or even a required reading assignment."

The trio came up with a plan: They would go to the Student Commons and bring back the couches.

The only thing that squelched their plot was the path they had to take, which led right by librarian Dr. Philip Johnson's office. The students decided to keep studying.

The actions of these three represent students' frustration at not having any comfortable place to study.

Dr. Johnson said the couches were removed because of lack of room for stacks. The library has purchased several more shelving segments and is planning to install them around Christmas.

He added that he wasn't at MBC when the decision was made to remove the present seating. He said he would look into getting more comfortable chairs for the library, but he isn't promising anything.

Some students have suggested exchanging some of the study carrels for more ample seating.

Dr. Johnson said that was not an unreasonable idea. He added that he would wait to see how much use the carrels got toward the end of the semester, especially during finals week. As it stands, the only place to relax inside the library is in one of the chairs by the magazine table. However, the chairs are awkward and uncomfortable.

Other soft seating at school ranges from the sofas in Memorial Hall to the couch by the registrar's office. The problem with these alternatives is that they are both "heavy traffic areas" with many distractions.

Besides, shouldn't students be studying in the library?

Until someone springs for more comfortable seating, the current library chairs will have to do. But as those three scheming students suggested, the library needs to get something better.