New plan for library envisions more flexible spaces, but students will have to wait
On Sept. 9, students were offered a chance to view and provide feedback on the new plan for McLaughlin Library’s long-awaited redesign. Back-to-back information sessions were held at the Library’s Academic Town Square and in the Science Complex Atrium.
Members of university staff, along with representatives from the architecture firm, Cannon Design International, the group hired to develop the plan, were on hand to answer questions as students familiarized themselves with the proposed changes.
In an effort to glean constructive criticism, students who left formal written comments were entered in a draw to win a new MacBook Air.
The buzzword of the session was ‘flexibility.’ The redesign intends that library space become more multi-functional than ever; capable, for example, of transitioning from open study space to enclosed conference room as need dictates.
More dramatic changes include: a new entranceway, the reservation of the entire sixth floor for graduate students, the allocation of a section of the first floor for 24-hour use, and the creation of an outdoor study space on the fourth floor.
In the long term, a five-story addition will adjoin the current building, situated on what is currently green space on the north side of the building.
Additionally, the library’s collection of 1.2 million books will be weeded down to 800,000, with much of what remains destined for high-density shelving. The oak paneling on the first floor will also be removed to increase space, reduce the area allocated to library administration, and let in more light.
In the end, usable public space is expected to increase by 20 per cent.
As the project is still in the planning stages – the contract for the implementation of the design has yet to be awarded, and the project itself is at the mercy of flighty university funding – it may be some time before these plans are realized.
“It might be a year or two years before we even get to build any of this,” said Jill Vigers, manager of architectural design for Physical Resources.
Generally, the plan was well received by students. Third year English major, Will Wellington, expressed some reservations about the about the high-density shelving, but was generally optimistic.
“I definitely feel a lot less skeptical, they’ve done a good job [here]. Of course, I still feel that the books are what I come here for, and I don’t want to see them go away. But I am open to what they’re suggesting,” said Wellington.
Information from Monday’s meeting will be incorporated into the plan’s final version, to be presented sometime in November or December. The design, pending its approval, will be implemented in piecemeal in order to ease the expense and cause minimal disruption to the daily functioning of the library.