Building 70 is the home to the Library, Tech Mall and The Village, where students spend their free time studying, collaborating or using the resources available. Recently, the library has added new furniture and vending machines, and rearranged its setting to revamp the purpose of the first floor.
The dean of Learning and Technology Resources, Dr. Tate Hurvitz, said he wishes to transition the library’s first floor to a welcoming space where students would like to socialize. Game boards are currently available to check out, and with the addition of the new food and beverage vending machines, students won’t need to go far for a snack. The library also changed of few of their standard desk-and-chair furniture to more comfortable and interactive seating. Now students have a variety of choices from a zen table, couch booth and lounging chairs.
These changes will not affect the reliable studious environment the library has created. The second floor will remain a quiet, study-focused setting for students who prefer silence. However, this does not mean students are limited to studying upstairs only. The first floor contains Zoom booths that muffle outside noise, which are first-come, first-serve, as well as study rooms on both levels that can be reserved. Hurvitz said they focused on students’ needs when making decisions, so by revamping the library to a more diverse setting, students are now able to excel in a setting they deem fit without needing to leave the building.