[pyromine]

Of all the college libraries I've been in what you're describing is the typical structure I've encountered.

[Akinato]

That gives me hope then! I'm up in Canada and all the universities I've visited / attended had the computers right near the librarian (so they could micromanage) and beside all the study desks. It always seemed sub-optimal to me.

Perhaps it's more of a small-to-mid university problem.