For years, University librarian Liz Evans wanted to add a presentation and recording room to the library. During months of discussion, she persuaded others that such a room for students to work on speeches and presentations was needed on campus. 

After collaboration with other University officials, the new room is in operation on the library’s lower floor next to the magazine section. 

“Within speech giving, it’s not just about being verbal and your actual speech, but it’s your body language as well, and that’s what this room is going to really help teach is to see your full body language whenever you are giving a presentation,” access services and archival coordinator, Phil Harrity said.

Presentation rooms are being offered at other schools such as the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State University. Evans felt Point Park should join the trend, so she started to figure out a way to add one to campus. Evans partnered up with Harrity, along with others, to orchestrate the new resource for students to use. 

The space provides a resource for students to get comfortable with presenting in front of the camera. 

“Your presentation is a performance,” Evans said.

The presentation room is available to all students and can be accessed or reserved for any time the library is open except for the last hour. It closes an hour earlier in order to prevent disruption during practicing in the event that the library is closing.

Signing up to use the room is simple, according to Evans. Students can go online to the library’s website under the tab “reserve a room” in order to schedule a time for the presentation room as well as other group study rooms. 

As long as the room is not reserved, students can come and use the room in their free time as well. When a student uses the room, he or she checks out a bag with items just as they would with a book. Inside the bag, students will find controls for the camera, microphone pack, remote and key.

There are instructions inside the room for students to follow if they get confused at any time. The room has a stand with a computer, a television screen for broadcasting media and a camera. 

Once the student is in the room, he or she can set up the camera and screen however they want. The camera can zoom in and out and pan the room. A recording is downloaded directly to the student’s USB device, allowing them to reference the recording once they leave. 

Advertising and public relations major, Noami Owens plans on using the room for her classes. One of her professors has assigned her class to record their presentations in the room and upload them to Blackboard. 

“I think it’s a good way to be more realistic about how your performance goes instead of doing it in front of a mirror because you can’t play that back, “ Owens said.