Students studying at the library don’t have to go far for coffee and snacks, now that a Java City has opened right across the walkway from the library’s main doors.

The newest location, requested by the library to create an atmosphere like commercial bookstores, according to Brigett Reilly, assistant director of project and development for University Enterprises Inc., joins four other Java City locations on campus.

Construction took about three months to complete, which Reilly described as a reasonable period considering the difficulties of the job and the quality of the workmanship delivered.

“It can be challenging when working with other functions going on, trying to disturb them as little as possible, which is why we started this project over winter break,” Reilly said.

Nevertheless, some inconvenience has been caused.

Fernando Rodriguez, a senior math major, said he dislikes how the new coffee shop’s location has resulted in a smaller computer lab, which is located next to and behind the new Java City.

“They shouldn’t have put it here because it makes the lab too small ?” all the printers and computers are squeezed together now,” Rodriguez said.

Reilly conceded that the lab is smaller but she said that putting in the coffee house resulted in the lab losing only four “work stations.”

Furthermore, after completing renovations on the lab, the vast majority of “network stations” will have computer jacks for laptops, which is not available now, Reilly said.

So far, the new location attracts steady, if not overwhelming, business, Corin Ibarra, a nonstudent Java City employee recently working the counter, said.

“It’s been pretty good but not as busy as I expected,” Ibarra said. “I guess not everyone has heard about us being open yet.”

Junior Kelly Comstock, a psychology major, discovered Java City’s opening when she came to the library to study.

“I like that it’s close by,” Comstock said as she ate a salad for lunch. “I can get something to eat and drink when I come outside for a break and some fresh air.”

Eight tables, six outside and two inside, provide ample seating options at the establishment, which is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. The venue is closed on the weekends.

Norm Erickson can be reached at [email protected]