Students can expect disruptions until the project is complete in April
Mock design via Jensen Chernoff Thompson Architects.
A brand new look is coming to the first floor of the McPherson Library this spring, with benefits such as a new service desk and increased study space for the UVic community and students to take advantage of.
Construction started in late fall, and the main floor of the library looks a little different than usual. Temporary walls have been set up, blocking much of the main level from view and access. The “Ask Us” desk, a designated area that provides loan services as well as study and research help, has temporarily been moved to the Music + Media desk at the back of the building on the main floor.
The project’s goal is to renovate a lot of the central aspects of the main floor of the library. The new Ask Us desk is going to be located in the centre of the main floor. It also includes renovations such as expanding the reserve lounge, an area in the front of the building that students commonly use as study space. Additionally, many book collections are being moved, generating more spaces specifically designated for studying. Karen Munro, director of engagement and learning at the McPherson Library, is excited about the new prospects and opportunities these renovations will create for students.
“We’re really conscious of students needing space [for] studying, and prepping for exams, and working in groups,” said Munro in an interview with the Martlet. “We’re going for a more decolonized, less intimidating, friendlier, fluid approach to service. And we’re also creating more student study space.”
Munro hopes that once the main floor has a more open-concept design, students who may have previously felt intimidated about going up to the desk will feel more comfortable doing so.
The project has an anticipated completion date of April 2023. In the meantime, there is going to be the potential for construction noise and disturbance due to the demolition, likely creating disruptions for both UVic students and community members who use the main floor for their study or social spaces.
“There’s never a good time for doing a construction project in a library. [It’s] always an issue, anywhere in the university,” said Munro. “We know that. And so we’ve been really sensitive to the disruption that this can cause to students. Obviously our end goal is to have better service and more space. But we have to go through a period where we’re going to have some disruption.”
Active library users like Larina Dong, a fourth-year biology and psychology student, visit the library almost every day, utilizing the building as a space to eat lunch and study. Dong doesn’t feel too disrupted by the renovations currently going on.
“I don’t know that [the construction] impacted me that greatly. I don’t often study in that section,” said Dong in an interview with the Martlet. “I guess it doesn’t look the nicest, but it’s not the biggest deal in the world.”
Dong was not aware of what kinds of renovations were actually taking place. After hearing about the new amenities being built, she expressed support.
“It’s always hard to find spots to sit, so it will be nice to have more student space,” said Dong.
There are solutions for students who are struggling to adjust to any disruptions caused by the library renovations. The temporary Ask Us desk is offering free earplugs for students, as well as noise-dampening headphones that are available to borrow. Munro also points out that exploring other parts of the library might be beneficial for some students. Specifically, the upper floors or the lower floor won’t be as affected by the renovations as the main floor. She recommends making use of the Unplugged Lounge, a newer space that has recently been renovated, located at the back of the building.
Munro also hopes to incorporate Indigenous art into the newly designed Ask Us desk. Because of the project’s quick timeline, this will most likely be done in a second phase, after the April deadline.
“We have terrific staff at the desk, and I think we’ve always had a very welcoming style,” said Munro. “But we’re looking to have that service desk be more consolidated … so more legible, easier to find, easier to approach, [and] easier to understand.”
