Making more room at Dimond Library

Third floor to be renovated before the start of the spring semester

By Brian Ward

Durham- Dimond Library plans to start renovating the third floor of the building the day after finals end, Dec. 17. The library plans to renovate the third floor to add more space for new equipment and furnishings at the request of students.

Dimond Library will start renovations of the third floor of the building on Dec. 17, and expect to be finished with the first phase of work by the start of spring classes on Jan. 24. According to the Tracey Lauder, the Assistant Dean of the Library Administration, the library will add new tables and computer stations over the break, which will allow more students to use the third floor. Dimond Library will also be installing new lockers and a printing/copying center as well. The library has additional plans to make more rooms for group studies and to centralize third floor services, but those are expected to done at a later date due to funding.

However, some students have questioned the need for renovating the third floor of the library. “If you go into the reading room, people sit one chair apart from each other.” Ashley Taylor said. “There’s plenty of space.”  Taylor also pointed out a possible downside to adding more tables and workspaces. “You hear it now? Just typing. I think if you add a bunch of new tables, yah, some people will study quietly, but a bunch will be loud and obnoxious.” Taylor said. “It feels like a waste of our money, and it seems like a drastic change”

According to Tracey Lauder, the library has been saving money by reviewing the necessity of job positions when people retired or left, and keeping the money if the position was considered to be unnecessary. To make space for the new amenities, the bookcases on the third floor will be replaced with ones that take up less space. Dimond Library officials will move infrequently used books and materials from the third floor stacks to other locations. Materials that can also be found online will be removed completely. The new bookcases will be about half the size of the old ones, and will make the floor seem more open.

Another student, Tiana Holt, said that she has never had any issues finding space to work on the third floor, and has always been able to use it for what she needed it for. While she doesn’t believe the renovations will affect her use of the library, Holt went on to say that “More computers will make it more accessible.”

Dimond Library conducted a survey of UNH students back in 2009 to find ways that they could improve their services. A large number of students suggested having more places to work and computer stations. The library has gotten into contact with an architectural firm since then, and conducted multiple focus groups and studies to find what UNH students want. The total costs of the renovations haven’t been determined yet, since the designs for the third floor haven’t been finalized.

Work cited

Taylor, Ashley. "Library Renovation." Personal interview. 26 Sept. 2011.

Holt, Tiana. "Library Renovation." Personal interview. 26 Sept. 2011.

Lauder, Tracey. "Library Renovation." E-mail interview. 25 Sept. 2011.