Center for Student Innovation

About the CSI

Our goal is to provide our students and scholars with services and spaces to make their academic pursuits engaging, productive, and enjoyable. We emphasize responsiveness to our patrons. We also strive to continually identify and develop services and spaces related to library innovation. Library Services will actively pursue opportunities for enhancing or transforming existing library spaces and develop new services and programs essential to the success of our academic community.

The CSI is located on the lower level of Booth Library, on the east side of the atrium (at the bottom of the stairs when crossing the bridge). To contact the CSI staff, email csi@eiu.edu or call 217-581-6073 during CSI open hours. You may also reserve space in the CSI.

CSI Active Learning Classroom and Design Lab

An Active Learning Classroom (ALC) and Design Lab serves as a central space for supporting the digital and technological infrastructure at the heart of the Innovation Center. The ALC combines flexible furniture, mobile technology, and innovative teaching and learning programming. Use of the ALC encourages collaborations with partners across campus in all colleges. Library patrons who would like access to equipment in the Design Lab should make an appointment through this website. To allow us to accommodate all patrons, appointments should be made 24 hours in advance. 

The Design Lab contains the latest technology to encourage collaboration and creativity. Technology currently available:

Computers and Mobile Devices

• Surface Studio 2, video and graphics editing with digital inking
• Trident X Plus, computer optimized for virtual reality and 3D modeling
• iPad Pro 2020 with accessories
• Microsoft Surface Pro 7 with accessories
• Surface Book 3

Presentation and Conferencing

• 75-inch monitor
• Meeting Owl - 360-degree videoconferencing system
• Actiontec ScreenBeam wireless display
• Google Jamboard - collaborative white board with camera and microphone
• Panasonic Lumix G digital camera
• GoPro Fusion 360 cameras
• Hovercam document camera
• Green screen
• Podcasting studio

Virtual Reality

• VIVE Pro 2 headset and controllers

Printing

• Prusa i3 3D printers with multihead extruder
  
• Afinia EinScan SE 3D scanner
• Cricut machine

Technology Checkout Station (Moved to the fourth floor in LTS)

The Technology Checkout Station has moved to the LTS Desk on the fourth floor of Booth Library. Checkout hours will follow the hours of the library. The station provides laptop computers, webcams and other technology to students, who may check out needed equipment with their Panther Card for a limited time period. Please see the Technology Checkout web page to learn what equipment is available.

Funding and Support

Renovation of the CSI space was possible thanks to a grant from the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation. The renovation included new flooring, electrical and Internet upgrades, updated lighting and paint.

Some CSI equipment purchased through a grant from the Illinois State Library.

Funding for the much of the Technology Checkout Station equipment was provided through the Governor's Emergency Education Relief fund.