Self-serve café opens in newly renovated library

By: Delaney Crawford//

Hood College started off the 2021 spring semester with the opening of the newly renovated library and much anticipated self-serve café.

The Library Café is a self-checkout location, so the honor system will be put to the test when it comes to students purchasing food. Payment options include Blazer Bucks or credit cards.

There are barcodes on each item that will scan and make it very easy to checkout and pay. Director of Dining Services John Bragel said that he is optimistic that “the students will respect the fantastic brand-new space.”

Others are not as optimistic.

“I hope that other students realize all the work that was put into this and don’t steal, but I fear that some may take advantage of the self-checkout,” junior Eleana Zill said.

While there are cameras set up in the space that will be checked daily, it is not yet decided what will happen if someone is caught stealing from the Café.

The new Café will be open whenever the library is and will feature a variety of options. There are candy bars, small and large bags of chips, gum, beverages, cookies, coffee, grab and go salads, sandwiches, fruit cups and more.

Students will also be able to request certain food options and there will be product movement reports to see what is popular and what isn’t. “We’ll be sure to keep the high movers and rotate other options for items that don’t seem to be popular,” Bragel said.

So far, there has been positive feedback on the Café and students seem to be enjoying it.

“I think it’s a great alternative option for our students to grab a snack while studying in the library and I hope that a lot of our students take advantage of this new option,” Admissions Counselor Kyle Bulgarelli said.

Feedback on the new café is welcome and can be sent to bragel-john@aramark.com