Naomi Girson | opinions editor

Gumberg Library’s fourth floor is back in business after its prolonged closure for renovations since the spring semester.

Originally planned to be finished by the beginning of the fall semester, the project was delayed four weeks. But now Gumberg has a brand new look to the main entrance level.

On Tuesday, Gumberg hosted a “sneak peek” for faculty, deans and student leaders to check out the newly designed study area prior to the doors opening to the rest of the student body on Wednesday.

The redesigned space included a new organization for their Library of Things, new seating, floor plan layout, a polished curriculum center to replace the old one, grab-and-go food options and new areas to hole up and study in.

“I feel like I’m someone who can’t work at my desk all the time and stepping away and finding a place dedicated to study that’s more lively is more motivating,” said second year early and special education major Megan Caskey while working in a booth with two of her friends.

Dean of Libraries Sara Baron said that they worked with a design team for about a year prior to the renovation, and they had students select some of the seating, which is now comparable to the library’s fifth floor open study space.

“It gives the fifth floor a run for their money,” said Michael Criscito, a pharmacy major who frequented the library in the semesters before the closure.

Additionally, the book collection and learning tools were all reorganized. Danielle Henzler, director of the curriculum center, said she noticed everyone was seeing the puppets, displayed on a wooden rack by the entrance and believing they were a new addition, but they have always had them.

Henzler said that there seems to be a stigma around the curriculum center, that everyone assumes it’s just for education students but it is for anyone on campus working with kids in some capacity. She listed nursing, speech pathology and physical therapy as just a few examples of the types of students that can benefit from spending some time in the new space.

“I’m excited for the new feet that will walk through the door,” Henzler said.

The Library of Things was also expanded, with new built-in shelving and carts full of items that can be checked out including karaoke machines, board games, cameras and cooking appliances.

“Why should you guys have to spend money on this kind of thing?” said Tracie Ballock, Assistant University Librarian of Collections and Metadata Services at Gumberg. “Try it here first.”

Ballock and Cathy Mellick, director of business and administration at Gumberg, were both excited to show off the new study carrels on the first floor of the library, which have not been replaced since 1978.

The new ones are larger, with more privacy and also come equipped with outlets. They also added more study pods, and they plan to soon add whiteboards to hook on the sides of them, according to Mellick and Ballock.

Jayla Flemory, Student Government Association’s vice president of academic affairs, was in attendance and said she was impressed with the new additions and changes to the facility.

“I love the interior design, it’s very inviting,” Flemory said. “I think [the student body] will love it. We will have more traffic in and out of the library.”

Naomi Girson can be reached at girsonn@duq.edu