A new study space, a cafe, a learning laboratory and 24-hour access are just a few features of the newly renovated first floor of the University of Idaho library. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Friday to officially unveil the renovations, and will be followed by a reception.
Dean of Libraries Lynn Baird said she has been working on this project since the conversation started about 10 years ago.
Diamond Koloski | Argonaut
Librarian Rochelle Smith assists a student on the newly renovated first floor of the library.
“The goal has always been to make this a place that is more welcoming to students,” Baird said.
She said one objective of the project is to help people find the best of all resources available to them.
She said that while libraries used to be the place people had to come to study before technology, computers have changed the dynamic of learning, so the world of libraries has been changing along with it.
Kristin Henrich, reference librarian and associate professor, said many of the changes were made with the idea of making the library more welcoming.
“We wanted a more dynamic space to respond to the changing class layouts over the years,” Henrich said. “Not home, not work, but just a place where you can go to be social.”
She said changes include updated lighting, repainted the walls and more space for students as a part of the attempt to make the library more aesthetically welcoming.
Baird said there were three goals the Library Advisory Committee based this phase of renovations on – to encourage new and different methods of learning, to connect students to library resources and to be a vibrant place on campus.
“We wanted to make this the best possible place for our students,” Baird said.
The north-facing side of the first floor used to be home to staff offices, but Henrich said clearing up that space really opened up the area and made it feel more friendly.
Along with removing those offices, plans have been set to replace that space with what Baird calls “a living room.”
She said there will be couches, comfortable chairs around tables, and a friendly atmosphere.
On the other side of the window-covered wall is the Fishbowl@Twelve, which is the cafe named by the students of the university. Baird said the cafe will be open whenever the library is open.
“The cafe is modeled off of The Grid and supposed to be modern looking,” said Ben Hunter, associate dean of Libraries. “It”ll be a great space for students to get a bite to eat and relax in the library instead of having to leave or use the vending machines.”
On the south side of the floor are several rooms, one of which is being made into “The MILL,” or Making, Innovating and Learning Laboratory, Henrich said.
This room, when completed, will have a 3D printer, two Linux systems to use with it, new Macs and PCs, and a green screen all for students to use.
Henrich said it is a kind of series of technology services.
“We are looking for things that students can use for classes they have on campus, but also so they can learn the things they”ll need in the future for their jobs,” Henrich said.
Hunter said the library has about 500,000 patrons come through annually, and that he is excited to see how the renovations impact that number. He also said the library”s computer lab is by far the most-used one on campus, and that it”ll only get more popular with the recent improvements.
Baird said the next part of this project is to create space to preserve and support UI”s extensive special collection section.
“This new space redefines the student library experience,” Baird said. “Here is a fusion of expert knowledge with technology, where students across disciplines can unite to create solutions to complex problems and explore different modes of communicating their ideas to a broad audience.”
The project cost about $1.3 million and was funded through public and private donations and support.
“The students truly see this as their library and as a great place to learn and engage with technology and each other,” Baird said. “This renovation represents much more than an update from the old to the new – it represents a new era in library education.”
Diamond Koloski can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @diamond_uidaho