With the fall semester beginning, the J. Paul Leonard Library is still under renovation, and students will scramble to many temporary locations disbursed throughout the campus for their studying needs.

The library has been closed since the summer of 2008 and will not be up and running until fall of 2011.

Some students, such as junior Rachel Lagan, 20, have mixed emotions about the project.

"I think the renovation is necessary, but I don't think they should have closed the entire library, because people still have to have a more convenient place to study," Lagan said.

During the rebuilding process, the school prepared locations scattered throughout the campus for students to retrieve books, use computers and study but many find these satellite locations to be problematic.

Lagan said she avoids going to the Annex, which is located west of the University Police Department, because it can take up to 30 minutes to get there.

"It is an inconvenience to me, so I don't take advantage because it wastes one hour of my time just walking, round trip, from the top of campus," she said.

Although the library changes may spark mixed emotions in some, others, such as LaVonne Jacobsen, division head for collections and management services and faculty member since 1972, are thrilled by the new changes under way.

"It's a good cause because the building was totally inadequate for the students as far as space and heating ventilation goes," Jacobsen said.

Lagan's younger sister, Ashley, 18, an incoming freshman at SF State, is excited about the new library because, she said, it will benefit her in the future, unlike juniors and seniors who may graduate before the project is completed.

Not only is she thrilled about the new library, but the freshman said during this semester she would most likely use the temporary locations such as the Annex, although she does not know the location of the building due to lack of information given at her fall 2009 orientation.

"They should have explained the locations and project better, but I will figure it out because I still need somewhere to study," Ashley said.

For this semester, Jacobsen said the hours for many of the temporary locations are somewhat complicated because of the furlough days. "We're trying hard to at least leave studying hours open for everyone," Jacobsen mentioned.

Whenever the Department of Public Safety officers are available, the Annex will try to be open 24 hours for students, with community service specialists there to provide safety for students.

The HSS Building location will be open on weekdays, and Saturdays from 12 to 5 p. m., but closed on Sundays due to lack of students using services.

The new library will have added 85,000 gross square feet to the existing building, and it will also have 34 percent more space in total; 50 percent more seating; 50 percent more group study areas; 50 percent more collection capacity, and 100 percent more computers.

For more information and updates regarding temporary library locations visit the library's Web site at www.library.sfsu.edu/about/building/index.php.