Rothrock Library’s New Display is Music to Students’ Ears

Trisha Bloszinsky | Writer

Starting this semester, the Rothrock Library has introduced a new music feature located at the

front of the building, offering vinyl records and CDs for students to take home, completely free of

charge.

Daulton Huffman, Media Assistant at LCCC, got the idea to recycle the old CDs and vinyl from

the radio station after a fellow librarian, Elizabeth Irwin, mentioned the library hasn’t done anything

music related in their display case.

“I wanted to make a little record store experience for people to pick through,” Huffman said.

Students cleared out all the vinyl and nearly all CDs by day one, but the library has been putting

out new material several times a week.

Physical music and this display can offer many benefits to students in the digital age. Huffman

explained how streaming services are "prevalent" and “impermanent” compared to owning the physical

material.

“It’s something to come in and do on campus that isn’t strictly academic,” Huffman said.

He added that having a broader culture of things that students can engage with can help them

get more invested in their education.

Isaiah Natale, communications major at LCCC, agrees.

“Introducing different types of music to a variety of students is a great way for students to show

their own expression and allow for greater diversity,” he said.

The most recent addition to the display has been a vinyl/CD player, paired with headphones, so

students can listen to the material and test it out before taking it home.

The main issue the library is facing with this display right now is the lack of space to display

everything in its entirety. There is a possibility that the display may be moved into the library. For now,

the display will remain in the lobby and new records and CDs will be available for students to take.