Third floor of Jernigan library revamped
Across campus, students look for an area where they can hang out in between classes. Areas such as the SUB, the hallways of Manning and Rhode, the student lounge located on the second floor of Manning Hall, or even outside areas such as the pavilion or the tables behind College Hall.
To add to that list of hang out spots, the third floor of Jernigan library has been remodeled to serve as both a study area but also a place where students can relax between classes or if they just feel the need to get out of their dorms for a little while.
With the third floor reopened, students have begun to use the space more than ever. The third-floor features rooms equipped with either smartboards or large monitors, lockers students can store their belongings in, detachable tables and white boards scattered around the space, and even cubicle-like chairs in which a student can take a nap if they needed to rest their eyes for even a moment. Sitting areas with brand new chairs and couches will be popular to those who just need a quiet space to relax.
“It’s a relief to finally have this open to students. It was such a long project and for it to finally be open is amazing,” Miriam Sliva, library operations, said.
As students and faculty alike piled through the doors of the third floor to take in the new scenery and new facilities, a sense of joy and excitement filled the space as well as a sense of accomplishment.
“We are so excited to see everyone come back and start using the resources and really dig into the numbers and see these phenomenal changes have changed the way the campus interacts with the library,” Library Director Christina Radcliffe said.
Despite the poor weather, it seemed as though nothing would stop those in attendance from showing up and being part of a big moment in the history of the library and to be the first to use the new and improved space.
“The turnout was just as I expected and hearing that there was even rain and for everyone to still make an effort to be here, that just showed us how much people missed this space,” Director Radcliffe said.
None of this would have been possible without the time and effort that TAMUK put in to improve everyone’s experience in the library as well as on campus.
“When you know all the details from behind the scenes and handling oppositions and work through all that and then you look around and you are just like ‘wow here we are,’ and the students benefit from it and that’s what is important,” President Robert H. Vela said.
With one project now completed, the future looks to possibly bring other big projects that the students can enjoy on campus.
“The library felt as the hub of the university so if this is our grand station, and then we could have little pocket parks all around the university as well as something similar to the library renovations in the engineering building,” President Vela added. Be sure to make time to check out all the new features of the third floor of Jernigan library for it is becoming one of the most popular places on campus.