Bucks students often rely on
the library to get what they
need, but the renovation work
going on there is making that
hard to do.
While the area is being renovated, students are still able to
access the library by using the
stairs by the bookstore, the elevator next to the stairs, or by
using the elevator located on
the side of the library.
“We have been working on
this project for at least 10
years,” said Maureen
McCreadie, Dean of Learning
Resources.
“It’s a three phase project
and we’re now in phase one
and that is the main floor of the
library. What we plan for phase
one is to move the tutoring
center up to the main level and
we’ll be moving the open
access lab down to where the
current tutoring center is,” said
Director of Library services,
Linda McCann.
“For the second phase we
will be closing the learning
commons level and we’ll be
moving the open access lab
down to where the current
tutoring center is and we’ll be
providing most of the services
like the Mindspace services,
the reference, and the circulation down to the main level
during that time and using a lot
of laptops for checkout,” said
McCann.
“That phase should be completed by the end of the spring
semester,” McCann added.
Moving the tutoring center to
the main level of the library
will allot a larger space
enabling students to take full
advantage of tutoring services.
“The tutoring center will be
collocating the resources so it
will be easier for students to
work with us and learning
resources,” McCann said.
“The main idea is to try to
collocate student services so
that they are easier to find and
students who come in for one
set of services can easily find
other services,” said
McCreadie.
McCann explained that the
renovated library will also
include some new perks.
“We will also have a concierge, who will greet and
welcome students; as well as,
direct them towards the services they need to find.”
Instead of the current setup
in which there are multiple
desks where students can go to
for help, there will be one desk
combining all of the areas of
the library that will make it
more convenient for students seeking help.
“Instead of having to know
whether they need circulation,
or TLC there will be one service desk on the top floor and all
they need to know is that they
need help and that is where to
go,” McCreadie said.
McCreadie added, “We are
also adding a Mindspace studio, so right now we have the
learning studio for informational literacy sessions, and
this will add a Mac lab for
media literacy sessions to
acquaint people with what new
media are available but also
how to use them ethically and
responsibly.”
“There’s a lot of research on
how people learn and one of
the findings is that students
tend to learn better if they are
working and studying in
groups so one of the features
that will be added after the renovations will be a couple of
areas where it will be easy for
groups to work together,”
McCreadie said. McCann explained, “There’s
going to be an office for faculty and a presentation room that
students can use to practice for
classes like effective speaking
because we know there is a
need for that.”
When all three stages of the
renovations are completed, the
library will be more open and
inviting to all Bucks students
who wish to use it.
For more information on the
library renovations or any contributions of ideas, students
can contact Maureen McCreadie at
(215) 968-8004 ext: 8004 or
Linda McCann at (215) 968-
8003 ext. 8003.