Students are the priority and inspiration for the first floor renovations expected to be complete in Fall 2010. After an interview with Dean Emma Bradford Perry, John B. Cade Library and Dawn Kight, Manager of Library Technology there is no question that the library is for the students.
“My primary goal and purpose is to provide the very best service and the best resources for students. This place is for the students, and students are important,” said Perry.
Both Dean Perry and Ms. Kight are ready for the library to better serve the students effectively.
“It’s a lot of hard work but, the work will result in a great library experience for our customers. After opening the Information Technology Center and seeing its response, it was a push to do more,” said Kight, Manager of Library Technology.
Students can look forward to new floors, comfortable furniture, new computers, remodeled study rooms, and improved individual study areas. A caf is also in the second phase of negotiations with the University. There will one desk that will serve four purposes; Reference, Circulation, Reserve, and Information. This desk and area will be the information commons providing resources to the students in one universal location. The new group study rooms will include computers connected to flat screen televisions located in the reference department on the first floor.
“We want this to be the place of choice. Where a student can receive the best customer service,” said Perry. “Overall the new first floor will improve customer service and create a student sanctuary.”
The library renovations are an on-going process and since the opening of the Information Technology Center the library has been in transition from the traditional library to a modern, social and learning environment. The new library will be a more social environment for students but, still be conducive to learning and studying. Resources will be more available and easily accessible. According to Dean Perry the library is not aiming for a bookstore environment but they want to do is give students a relaxing environment with the best resources and customer service on campus.
The library will continue to provide resources for most majors and textbooks on reserve for students to use while in the library. The library offers specialty collections such as; Camille Shade African American Collection, Music Listening, and Archives. John B. Cade Library has four floors with a seating capacity of 1,400 and over 154,000 square feet of space. It contains over 1 million volumes and stays open 89 hours a week to serve all the students of Southern University and A&M College.
“I am really excited and hope to get it completed as soon as possible for the students,” said Perry.
All resources and services are still available throughout the renovation process.