RBD began accommodating student needs when the Learning Commons were completed last fall on the second floor. Now the library is remodeling the first floor to offer students more seating and power sources and softer seats for the all-nighters that always sneak up on us.
Right when you walk past the elevators on the first floor, a boring line of desks with four stiff seats around each are there to greet students. After these renovations, students can look forward to interesting color schemes, more comfortable seats and ergonomic desks that work around the needs of students who use books and laptops at the same time.
Renovations have been in the works for the past few months and Bonnie MacEwan, dean of libraries, said everything should be up and ready to go by the beginning of fall classes.
It is noticeable to everyone who visits the library during midterms or finals that more seating and power sources are necessary to accommodate everyone, so MacEwan worked with designers and the Student Advisory Council for Auburn Libraries to come up with another student-oriented study area.
"We felt that we needed another student-designed area, and we worked closely with students to draw their ideal library," MacEwan said.
Relocating aisles of maps and microforms to a more accessible area gave the library thousands of square feet to create a study area with a laid-back feel and easy-to-move desks and chairs. This new area, which is still unnamed, will serve to the needs of all students.
Within the 86,000 square feet, there will be 400 new power sources, 16 group areas, four enclosed group areas available for four hours at a time, diner-style booths, L-shaped desks, couches and EZ chairs.
Jayson Hill, communications and marketing director for Auburn Libraries, said the design is made for long-haul studying. Soft chairs and L-shaped desks offer students a chance to get comfortable on some of those inevitably long nights.
Hill said the design is modeled after the Learning Commons on the second floor, but it goes one step further by giving students more group areas and tables to work with.
MacEwan said the library also works closely with Georgia Tech, which is where they got many of their ideas when designing the Learning Commons.
Marcia Boosinger, associate dean of libraries, said noisier areas will be closer to the atrium stairwell and will be more quiet as you move toward the windows.
MacEwan said although the maps and microforms are moving, they will be easier to access and the service will definitely be improved.
Hill said first floor renovations along with the Learning Commons were made possible by a grant given to the library from EBSCO, a company that works closely with the library.
For students, the renovations are a sign students needs really are taken into consideration. Students played a large role in the design and implementation of this project and were able to give their input about aspects such as color scheme and the number of group areas.
Boosinger was in charge of convening with students from Tiger Tuesdays and the Student Advisory Committee, which consists of students who all share the interest of making the library the best it can be. Boosinger said anyone can volunteer to be part of the committee.
MacEwan and Boosinger presented the plans and images of the design to the SGA at its meeting last Wednesday and received good feedback.
"We are really pleased we've gotten all the support we've received for this project," MacEwan said. "I look forward to the fall."
Currently, electricians have moved in to put in all the power sources. Hill said the last step will be the delivery of the furniture at the beginning of August.
Until then, Boosinger said the area will still be accessible to students.
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