Herman Library Open

Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2015

The new Herman Library provides an eclectic mix of study environments that suit the diverse needs of the students who visit the Library each day for small intimate group work and individual studying.

Coming Spring 2016, the Herman Library will become even more versatile after undergoing a series of changes that will provide new furniture options and unique study spaces.

The new layout plans are inspired by the user feedback provided by students through the LibQUAL+® survey, a nationally distributed, web-based survey that allows libraries to request, track and assess user opinions about the quality of their services.

According to Robin Krivesti, facilities manager, the first part of the revamp will consist of the removal of two office spaces in order to provide a new seating option for students interested in collaborative group work. In place of the offices, will be two booth-seating areas.

To create new space for student study, the Children’s Book Collection will be relocated to the seventh floor of Herman. The relocation is projected to begin by mid-December and be completed by early 2016.

Krivesti said the relocation of the children’s collection will result in “opening the west side of the fourth floor to allow more natural light in and add individual workspaces, that are spacious to each individual, yet semi-private for more conducive studying.”

The new furniture arrangements will include a range of options, such as soft seating and moveable chairs on casters; study tables for individual or small group work; a variety of mobile white boards; new computer desks; and semi-private dividers that will allow for isolated studying.

“The new layout will provide openness [and] be a quiet, but not too quiet of an area for studying; where, even if you’re by yourself, you don’t feel like you’re by yourself; and where students can collaborate or chat quietly with others,” said Krivesti.

All of these improvements coincide with the Libraries’ plan to provide students with more 24-hour access to more than one floor of Herman Library. At the very latest, fourth floor access is expected to happen by Spring 2016.

Kelly Broughton, assistant dean for research & education services, identifies how sharing the second floor Learning Commons hours, 24-hours, five-days-a-week, on the fourth floor will accommodate the late night study hours requested by students.

“We anticipate when we open the fourth floor overnight, seeing a significant increase in the number of people who stay in this building,” said Broughton. “We know that people—sometimes at certain points in the semester—in the hundreds, exit the building at midnight when all of the floors close except for the second floor. There’s just no more room on the second floor and they leave.”

There are high hopes for the aftermath of these changes, however student input will continue to be an important factor in future decision making processes.

“We won’t know the benefits until the renovated area and furnishings are used and critiqued and that part of our goal is to learn from the students to help us decide what we should invest in for the future,” said Krivesti.

Please check out our future stories for additional updates on the changes coming to Herman Library!

Category: Community

Keywords: library