USG hosts tours of Leavey Library

Undergraduate Student Government is leading tours of Leavey Library during Trojan Family Weekend to showcase the new renovations to the library and to raise awareness about the improvements that USG would like to see completed in the future.

“It’s so automatic to say, ‘This is where I’m living,’ ‘These are my friends,’ but parents don’t necessarily know where their kids are studying,” said USG Assistant Director for Academic Affairs Eric Miller.

The tours, offered on Thursday and Friday, are a part of USG’s ongoing initiative to update and renovate Leavey. Last December, USG surveyed students about what changes they would like to see made to the library, and over the summer they were able to collaborate with administration to renovate the basement and first floor, along with adding seating to the patio.

According to USG Vice President Rini Sampath, giving tours of the library during Trojan Family Weekend will not only demonstrate the progress that USG and the administration has made in updating the library, but will also raise awareness about the changes that still need to be made as well as hopefully attract potential donors.

“The purpose is to show our families and parents the current status and appearance of Leavey and will allow individuals to see we are in desperate need of renovation,” Sampath said. “With cooperation from administration, we’ve done some great work with the first floor and renovated the basement, but we’re ready to move on to the next floors.”

Tours started on the third floor to show families areas of the library that USG hopes to improve in the future. On the tour, USG Director for Academic Affairs Nicole Schrad and Miller highlighted seating that students have said is uncomfortable and the wall color that students would like to see updated. On the second floor, Schrad and Miller explained to parents that removing the large computer desk carousels, something that has already been done in the basement, would create room for additional seating.

Throughout the tour, parents expressed their understanding of students’ desire to update the library.

“I think it’s important to update and renovate the space to accommodate new technology and to update the learning environment,” said parent Cathy Kennerson. “Also, as time goes on, color schemes do change, so it’s important to keep it fresh, which will keep students motivated.”

Families were also given the opportunity to see the first floor and basement, where renovations have already occurred in order to brighten rooms, increase seating and update furniture.

Patty Huber, whose daughter is a sophomore studying environmental science, said she was impressed by the new collaborative study spaces in the basement.

“I’m definitely going to talk to my daughter about the group study areas in the basement because I don’t know if she knows it’s available, and I think it’s something she should take advantage of,” Huber said.

Through showcasing the renovations at Leavey, parents can see their tuition dollars at work, according to Schrad.

“I think for parents who are helping to send their kids to school by paying tuition, it’s awesome to see how the administration supports students,” Schrad said. “The renovations are really cool and a nice way to see how the university does care about students and is trying to support them.”

Future plans to update the library include repainting and refurnishing the interior of the second and third floors. Miller said USG explored a renovation option that would involve stripping the majority of the building’s interior; however, Miller said that they opted for a plan that would be less expensive and could be completed sooner.

“Realistically we want to provide Leavey as a resource to students now, so we’re focusing our efforts on changes we can make quickly,” Miller said.

One tour took place on Thursday and two more are scheduled for Friday.