Assignment #2: Comparing Leisure Delivery Systems

The purpose of this blog post is to critically assess leisure service delivery as it is applicable to the Grainger Engineering Library, the ARC, and the Midtown Tennis Club. Using the skills we have developed throughout this course, we will discuss these agencies in terms of their: goals, means of generating funds, targeted groups, key program elements, and overall strengths and weaknesses.


1. The goals of these three agencies are both similar and different. Each strives to serve a particular group of society, whether public or private. The ARC, Grainger Engineering Library, and Chicago's Midtown Tennis Club all offer their own forms of recreation and leisure in order to suit the people they serve. Since both are found on campus, ARC and Grainger offer recreation services to students pursuing education here at the University of Illinois. Their goals are to offer leisure as cocurricular enrichment, maintain campus control and morale, enhance the school's imagine, and contribute to student development. ARC offers recreational sport activities, such as intramurals and fitness, while Grainger is more suited as a place to rest and relax in a quiet environment. Although Midtown is similar to the ARC in that they specialize in sports recreation, the tennis club's objective is primarily to serve its paying members and provide them with personalized instruction as well as quality service.


2. Funding for these leisure delivery systems varies by agency. Since the ARC can be found on campus, it is funded through the university along with other university facilities. The Grainger Engineering Library, being named after William Grainger, also receives private funds through The Grainger Foundation Inc. as well as through the University. The University's source for gathering its funds include both government funding and tuition fees paid for by students. On the other hand, Midtown Tennis Club is maintained through the membership and programs fees paid by its members. The money generated is either used to somehow improve the facilities or to pay the employees working there as tennis instructors or personal trainers. Despite the different methods of funding, each agency puts forth a tremendous amount of effort into using the money to improve the quality of service it provides to its users.


3. The Activity and Recreation Center was renovated in 2005 to create a better enriched environment for its users. It opened primarily to serve students and faculty members; however, it is not restricted to just students. Community members can benefit from the variety of programs that it offers. Similar to the ARC, the Grainger Engineering Library was also built to serve students and more generally, the public. Unlike both of these two agencies, the Midtown Tennis Club is a private membership organization, thus it is open to individual members only. However, more public members have begun to join the club to specialize in tennis and experience it as a fun way to spend their time.


4. The ARC is one of the largest campus recreation centers in the country. It offers a wide range of programs that differs from other campus recreation programs. Its programs can be adventurous and aquatic; there are climbing adventures, club sports, group fitness, and personal training. From physical exercise to social events such as cooking classes, the ARC has helped the community members to achieve physical wellness and serves as a communication and leisure center for its participants. It is a good place for students to come and exercise and at the same time relax with friends together.


The Grainger Library is one of the largest engineering libraries in the nation. With lots of tables and cubicles, students on campus most likely will be able to find a seat at the Grainger Library easier in comparison with other libraries. Also, with numerous amounts of books, magazines, scientific journals available at the Grainger Library, students can gain easy access to information for their research. Some services provided are the Digital Library,flexible hours of operation, and the enhanced technology. The Digital Library assists students to find virtually anything for any project in the most efficient manner. The 24-hour operation helps students to work in a productive setting especially during the final exam week. Lastly, the enhanced technology keeps the internet flying at the speed of light and replacing dated hardware, hence bringing faster computing power to publicly-accessible computers in the library. These are only some of the helpful programs that are unique and help serve the community better.

The Midtown Tennis Club provides its members with courts and instruction, as well as structured league play. It was created to provide the best available tennis instruction as well as offer world-class tennis services. The club has even patented their own method of teaching called “Tennis in No Time”, which has introduced a variety of new players to tennis, most of whom are now members themselves. This is the link to the "Tennis in No Time" (Midtown's Copyrighted Teaching method) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-CizLQPepg. What differs from other tennis clubs is that Midtown not only serves all those that play tennis, but it also offers fitness opportunities, social events, and child supervision for all its members. Such opportunities include its variety of facilities like cardiovascular and strength equipment, a sauna, a whirlpool, cafe, and a pro shop.


5. Grainger Engineering Library first opened in 1994, and it has since remained the most state of the art and versatile facility on campus. One of the biggest strengths that Grainger boasts as a leisure service provider is the size of its facility. With its high ceilings and large worktables, Grainger provides ample space for up to 1,200 patrons, and is ideal for studying, research, group work, computer lab work, or merely taking some time to relax. As the largest Engineering library in the nation, Grainger proves its strength of its large range of accessible resources available for students, faculty, and the public. It hosts 350,000 volumes of library materials and is capable of supporting 1000 networked computer connections. The weakness of Grainger is its location. It is not located on the Main quad so it puts students that are not engineering majors and that do not live on the northeast side of campus at a disadvantage, in terms of accessibility.


The ARC opened its doors to the public in 2008 and it has since boasted many strengths as a leisure service provider. The greatest strength of the ARC is the wide range of amenities that it offers. The ARC offers a huge variety of programs including adventure programs, aquatics, a climbing wall, club and intramural sports, group fitness, personal training programs, and a Health & Wellness center. With such a wide range of services available, the ARC offers something for anyone looking for fitness or leisure. Another strength of the ARC is its large facility. With several gyms, 2 olympic sized pools, racquetball courts, basketball courts, personal fitness studios, and even a rock climbing wall- the ARC is such a large facility that it is capable of holding numerous patrons and there is seldom a time that one must wait in line for a machine. A weakness of the ARC is its ability to retain its sanitation and to follow the health code, since it cannot clean after each and every patron who uses a machine. Especially with the outbreak of the Swine flu, it would be difficult to ensure that patrons are properly disinfecting machines after use, and in general, to ensure that the facility is sanitary.

The Midtown Tennis Club was created to provide the best available tennis instruction. Its strength is that it offers a large facility- the world’s largest indoor tennis facility- with 18 indoor tennis courts. Another strong point of the facility is that it offered renowned tennis instruction which coordinates tennis lessons with personal training. The biggest weakness of the Midtown Tennis Club is that tennis is a recreational activity that is correlated with economy. During hard economic times, it is hard to generate memberships for the club, and vice versa, when the economy is doing well, there is more interest in the sport. Given the current condition of the economy, the club is facing a weakness in generating new memberships to gain marginal revenue.


6. The Grainger Engineering Library's objective is to provide an outstanding library facility with ample accommodations and a wide range of resources for its patrons to increase productivity and efficiency. Grainger undoubtedly accomplishes this objective both through its facility and also through its available library materials and resources. An example of Grainger’s excellence is the simple fact that if you ask any student on campus where their favorite place to study is- they will undoubtedly reply, “Grainger.” It has a well-known reputation for being the best library facility on campus, not to mention its national ranking, which is a clear indication that it has more than followed through with its objective.

The goal of the ARC is to provide a state-of-the art fitness facility for students, faculty, and residents of the U of I and Champaign-Urbana communities. With the array of amenities and accommodations that it offers to guests and patrons, it is easy to see that the ARC has succeeded in its goal of being a state-of-the art facility. The best example of its success is the fact that it with four floors and 340,000 square feet- the ARC is one of the largest campus facilities in the nation. The variety of programs and activities that are available at the ARC prove that it has gone above and beyond its overall goal.

The Midtown Tennis Club definitely fulfills its objective of providing the best available tennis instruction and offering world-class tennis services. Through the wide range of amenities that it offers its members including private instruction, personal training, high-quality tennis courts, and a pro shop it is undoubtedly a state of the art tennis facility. The best example of its fulfillment of its objective of providing superb tennis instruction is the 18 indoor tennis courts that it offers to its members. In doing so- it is the largest indoor facility in the world. Another example of its fulfillment would be the success of its patented method of teaching tennis which is called Tennis in No Time. It is clear that the Midtown Tennis Club strives to be the best tennis facility and clearly it has accomplished this.


After researching the Grainger Engineering Library, ARC, and Midtown Tennis Club we have gained a much better understanding of how they compare and contrast to each other. One can see the similarities and differences, that were discussed in lecture, of the way these agencies meet their goals, generate funds, target users, are unique, and their overall strengths and weaknesses after completing this assignment. These three facilities go above and beyond what one would label a library, rec center, and tennis court. These services deliver leisure on all levels so that everyone is indeed satisfied.

Public Agencies: The Grainger Engineering Library By: Greg Seymour

The Grainger Engineering Library at the University of Illinois has been deemed the largest Engineering library in the nation. At first, I was indecisive on whether I should research the Undergrad Library or Grainger Library. After a few conversations with the staff from both sides, I decided to go with Grainger Library paying my respects to a fellow Civil Engineer, and my fascination with being in the country's largest Engineering Library. Located at the north end of the Bardeen Quadrangle, The Grainger Library was erected in honor of the highly acclaimed architect and Civil Engineer, William Wallace Grainger. William Grainger was a 1919 graduate from the University of Illinois College of Engineering. With over an $18 million donation from The Grainger Foundation Inc, and millions more from state and gift funds, The Grainger Library opened its doors to the university and public in March of 1994.

As stated on the homepage: "The Grainger Engineering Library is a five-floor, 92,000 square-foot facility. The building can seat 1,200 patrons, can accommodate 350,000 volumes of library materials, and has the capability of supporting 1,000 networked computer connections that provide state-of-the-art computing and information technologies to assist students in research and instruction and to provide patrons access to information resources held locally and available on the Internet."

The staff were friendly and helpful at Grainger Library. There is a wide range of jobs that Grainger has to offer and getting one of these positions is harder than you would think. I learned that the applicants best chance of landing a job here would be through their ability to network, and their connections; who you know. Grainger Library receives hundreds of applications each semester and the ones that get in are names of credible people they know are qualified. Department offices within the library include the Office of Information and Technology, Office of Collections, Office of Services, Office of Library Advancement, Center for International Library Programs, and perhaps the most familiar the Office of the University Librarian. These offices efficiently maintain and predict all the needs and services of the most technologically advanced library in the nation and can be looked into with further depth at <www.library.illinois.edu/administration/>.

When conversing with current employees, they say the best part of working at Grainger Library is the ability to do your homework on the job with endless resources always within reach. Cons include working the late shift from 2am-6am. The occasional rowdy drunk or bum that stumbles in during the week turns library staff into security. Other than that they had very few complaints.

Simply put: "Following the approval of the Library/IT Fee in Spring 2007, the University Library made a commitment to using Fee monies to provide resources and services that directly support student needs for improved Library facilities, enhance information technology available for public use, and improve access to print and digital scholarly materials that students need to conduct their academic work." <http://www.library.illinois.edu/services/fee/projects09.htmlrary.illinois.edu/services/fee/projects09.html>


A few of these projects include the ever expanding Digital Library, 24 hour operation, and enhanced technology. The Digital library helps you quickly find virtually anything for any project. The 24 hour operation helps students, like me, with procrastination issues and puts more hours back on the clock for working in a productive setting. Lastly the enhanced technology keeps their internet flying at the speed of light and replacing dated hardware, "bringing faster computing power to publicly-accessible computing in the Library", hence the most technologically advanced title.

Through research I have gained a much better understanding of all that Grainger Library has to offer. I have been coming here for two years but never really took advantage of all its resources. Grainger's technology enhancements really promote productivity and efficiency. You can find what you need faster and at a better quality than anywhere else. It's no wonder why Grainger is such a student and public hot spot at night. I feel that Grainger effectively meets and exceeds expectation when compared to what can be accomplished at a library. Whether you are a student or local resident looking for just somewhere quiet and comfy to study/work or need a conveniently located place to meet for a group project with blazing fast internet, The Grainger Library is your answer if you are looking for productivity.

Non-Profit Organization: YMCA, Champaign, Illinois By: Lisa Ephraim

Introduction The YMCA exists and operates to outreach to the Champaign-Urbana community. It hosts special events, lecture series such as Know Your University which encourage intellectual and ethical decision-making on campus, non-credit courses including ballroom dancing and English as a second language, student organizations focusing on student justice, and an array of other community programs including the Dump & Run recycling program and hurricane/ typhoon donation collection areas. The YMCA does not receive money from the University or from taxes. It operates solely from the donations of private individuals.














(Left:) One of the common areas used for lectures (Above:) Dump & Run recycling collection area





Background According to the University of Illinois YMCA website:

“The YMCA at the University of Illinois was founded in 1873; just 6 years after the University began in 1867. The first President (Regent) of the University was a Baptist minister, John Milton Gregory. President Gregory led a daily chapel service that all the students were required to attend. But students wanted a religious organization of their own, and so began the YMCA at the U of I.”

The University YMCA initially hosted Bible studies and service projects. The YMCA offered free service to the students up until 1955. From 1900 to 1932, the YMCA offered employment opportunities for students that needed part-time work. In 1908, the YMCA offered the first dorm on campus- housing 88 U of I students. U of I later bought the building, which is now- Illini hall. The YMCA began hosting international students in 1918, when there were 201 students from abroad. Over the years, with the increasing number of international students, the Y continues to host cooperative programs for the 5000 international students at the university. The YMCA has expanded to host an array of programs for Champaign-Urbana community.

Employment Opportunities There are student employment opportunities available through the Federal Work Study Program and through the University. When I visited the YMCA, I spoke with the receptionist- Anna, and she mentioned that she was able to get a foot in the door and obtain employment with the Y through the Federal Work Study Program. She mentioned that the best way to get a foot in the door is to check the job listings site available through the University, which is how she found out about the position. She mentioned that aside from the receptionist position, that the other office on the main floor hosts all the organization reps, which sometimes have student positions also available. Anna mentioned that the second floor has all of the main offices of the Y, which do not offer student positions. The university YMCA is unique from most other YMCAs in that it does not have a gym or a pool, so its role as being a good beginning stage for people interested in a career in leisure is limited to the extent that it only hosts community programs and events.

Current Trends During my visit, while I spoke with Anna (the student receptionist) she mentioned that the current trends facing the YMCA is a move towards making the facility more handicap accessible. The building is multi-level and to enter the building you must walk up a few steps in the front, so there is currently effort to raise money to put towards creating ramps and overall making the building more handicap friendly. The YMCA is also trying to make the building more accessible to special needs individuals in terms of offering additional programs and events catered to integrating individuals with special needs and other special interest groups.

Agency’s Definition of “Leisure” The agency defines “Leisure” through its mission statement: “to challenge and nurture the mind and spirit of individuals and communities to develop and practice ethical principles and responsible leadership for social justice and the integrity of our natural world.” I think this mission statement is a great way of depicting their stance on leisure- they seek to create an environment through which members of the community can take a break from work and school to learn, grow, and develop intrinsically. During my visit, while I spoke with Anna, she mentioned that while the YMCA offers recreation and leisure- it exists with the purpose of hosting meetings, programs, events, and other community service activities.


Synopsis Overall, I had a great experience through my visit to the YMCA. I learned a lot about their goals and the types of leisure- in terms of enabling personal growth- that are available to the surrounding communities of Champaign and Urbana through the YMCA. It was great to see that their efforts in trying to enhance the community by providing a resource for community members to enhance their lives and to develop leadership and other personal skills. Based on the resources and programs that they have available to the university and community, it is easy to see what a valuable resource they provide. vid


All pictures were taken during my visit to the YMCA.

YMCA Website:
"The University YMCA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign." The University YMCA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009.

By: Lisa Ephraim

Campus Recreation Program-Art Recreation Center

by: Meiyu Chen

Located at 201 E. Peabody Dr, Champaign, IL 61820, the Art and Recreation Center(ARC) is one of the largest campus recreation centers in the country. The building is composed of four floors with a total area of 340,000 square feet, each floor is offering something different. Campus Recreation cultivates positive life-long learning by providing inclusive and valuable resources that empower the campus to achieve, develop leaders, and serve the global community at the highest level. Although its main purpose focus on students, the ARC overall serves the whole community that everyone can participate.

Campus Recreation is one of the largest on-campus employers with almost 600 positions available ranging from lifeguarding to officiating to assisting customers. Student employees play an invaluable role by providing customer service, safety and fun to guests. Campus Recreation give students chances for valuable work skills, life-long learning opportunities and lasting friendship as one would describe his experience working at campus recreation as “ Opportunities…Family…Flexible….Friends…Home…”

At first glance, the ARC’s updated furniture and nifty Courtside Café make it look more like an airport than a gym. After exercises, people can grab a bite to eat at the Courtside Café, which serves breakfast food, soups, salads, toasted subs, smoothies and protein shakes. This can be a place for students to relax and enjoy a fun time with friends after extensive work out.

ARC offers a huge variety of programs such as adventure programs, aquatic, climbing adventures, club sports, group fitness, etc. There are many machines here that students do not need to wait in line to exercise. In addition to the abundance of machines, the ARC also houses a three-story climbing wall, 13 basketball courts, 12 racquetball courts and seven huge multipurpose rooms, one of which recently held a 200-person wedding. There are squash courts, ping pong tables and Wii Fit games.

Recently, the ARC has offered wellness services such as instructional kitchen, club sports and group fitness classes. The instructional kitchen will review a different cookbook each month and one special recipe from it and meets on the first Tuesday of each month. This club is a great way to gather friends, colleagues, committee members. Campus Recreation Group Fitness offers a variety of formats to keep everyone motivated and feeling healthy and to meet personal goals. The programs provided are yoga, deep water exercise, Zumba and etc. to fight for obesity, arthritis and osteoporosis

Synopsis: ARC is definitely a great place for students to explore. At the ARC, any workout is possible. Students can benefits a lot from the varieties of programs that it offers. It helps students to achieve physical wellness, contribute to personal development and enrich a student college life. Also, students can apply for jobs at the ARC to gain work experiences in the recreation and leisure field. By exploring more and more about the ARC, I have learned that there is always something new that you can do at the ARC; for example, you can join the dance clubs or fitness groups, these help to build communication skills among students and help students to learn the value of team works. I love to visit the ARC with my friends to exercise and at the same time to release the stress from school work and have a fun and enjoyable time with friends together. Each of us should enjoy our leisure time spend at ARC.