Students were surprised the week of March 12 when they walked into the library to study at their usual private study carrel and found that a table made for four had taken its place.  Over the course of a few weeks, the Department of Facilities renovated the library, making changes that included the book shelves being moved against the walls, the addition of three tables, and the removal of study carrels.

Media Center Director Theresa Burlas noticed that there was a need for change to make the library a better place for students to study.  “A lot of students were gathering at the study carrels, instead of one person, so we wanted to get tables so that they could congregate there,” she said.

“I like how they have more tables,” sophomore Gracie Hunt said.

The changes were also brought about because of students misbehaving where neither Burlas nor Media Assistant Phyllis Grymes could see them.  “Students would use these back tables to do things they’re not supposed to do, like eating and texting…Now this allows us to see everything,” Burlas said.

Revitalizing the atmosphere of the library was one of the reasons that the furniture was moved around.  “Moving the bookshelves freed up floor space…Facilities also painted the back wall yellow to make that uniform,” Burlas said.

According to Burlas, she and Grymes decided on the renovations in conjunction with Director of Facilities Stewart Walker and Building Superintendent Jesse Switzer.

“[Burlas] contacted us to request to do more significant changes than just a work order request, and then we met physically in the space to hear their ideas.  Most of the time when this happens, they’re either physically unable to do it or they’re looking for different ideas.  It depends on what they want the end result to be.  In this case, they wanted to open the middle space up and also fill up unused space,” Walker said.

According to Walker, renovating the library couldn’t be done during the school day, so changes were made in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

“This was a relatively straightforward job.  It wasn’t costly.  It was more labor intensive and we didn’t need as many materials, really just the paint,” Walker said.

Some students don’t like the fact that there is more floor space because that means there are fewer places to sit.  “[The renovations] are really different, but there are less seats, and that’s bad because it’s more crowded,” sophomore Matt Cleary said.

Burlas hopes that students will see that the renovations are for the better despite some dissatisfaction.  “Right now, I just mostly hear complaints.  Eventually, I think students will get used to it.  Students like tables, so I think that’s a step in the right direction,” Burlas said.

 Brianna Glase is a Managing Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.