New entryway planned, students get to vote for new chairs

O’Neill Library recently announced it would renovate its first floor to add a new entryway along with a seating area, five look-up stations, scanners and printers for students. Construction will take place over winter break and the entryway should be open for students in January as the spring semester begins.

The current doorway, an emergency exit, will be enlarged and replaced with a set of glass double doors (which mirror the ones currently in use on the third floor). The first floor, which has traditionally been the location of the university’s microfilm storage and viewing center along with several bookshelves, will be relocated to another area of the library.

In the place of all the microfilm computers and storage more student seating will be added to make the library “a new destination for students” stated Mr. Thomas Wall, the University Librarian. He further added “We want to reform the image of the library to be not just an academic setting but one where students can meet with their peers and professors.”

The construction is part of O’Neill Library’s attempts to expand the role of the library” to better serve student interests, stated Mr. Wall. He added that the purpose of creating another entrance and exit in O’Neill Library was “for the convenience of the student body” and “important in rationalizing student flow” through the library, which at times becomes congested during exam week.

The issue of expansion in O’Neill Library was first addressed by Kathleen Carney, the Associate University Librarian, in 2004. However, little progress was made until March 2009, when the University hired Thomas Wall. Mr. Wall had previously worked at Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh and had worked extensively on renovating libraries to fit student needs.

He began meeting with student groups such as the Quality of Student Life and UGBC to determine what changes needed to be made to the library. Mr. Wall claims he did a significant amount of “listening to the needs” of students and “collaborating with the CTRC.”

Since then, small changes have been made to the third floor (currently the only entrance to O’Neill library) to make it more “recreational:” over the summer, the study rooms on the fifth floor were technologically enhanced with screens, in September, Macintosh computers were added to the third floor and in November, an exhibit of photographer Bobbie Hanvey decorated the windows and front entryway of the library.

The first floor renovations were designed and approved in less than six months. Ms. Carney called the move a “quick win” for the library and for the student body and hopes that many more will follow in its place. She stated that the renovation carried out over the break is by no means definite but “an evolving process” which will be driven by students.

In fact, the library is asking for student input in the types of armchairs it intends to add in the seating area. Currently, the library has five chairs on loan from its furnishing provider on display (please see photo) and asks for students to vote on their favorite before Winter Break begins. The winning chair will be purchased and placed throughout the space.

Another touch will be the addition of student artwork, which will be displayed along the walls and rotated several times a semester to enhance the idea of a student setting.

The library plans to keep this second entrance open Monday through Thursday until 9PM and Friday until 5PM. However, if the space becomes immensely popular, Mr. Wall said the university would consider expanding its hours to fit student needs.

Mr. Wall also hinted that additional renovations are in the works for O’Neill Library in the future.