Here's the latest

It’s been about 3 weeks since we last “talked” about everything going on around here (see Changes & more changes). But by now you’ve probably moved into residence and met your roommate or moved into your apartment and met your 4 roommates, you’re ready to hit the books and you’re wondering when you’ll be able to start enjoying the benefits of all these renovations. So, with that in mind, let me tell you what we know, as of today, about the completion dates for the various projects within and adjacent to the library:

• The library’s new entrance & service desks will open September 30– that graffiti-covered temporary wall in the Reference Room will be coming down very soon, unveiling the new entrance and our impressive new service desks. The new flooring will be completed and all of the furniture and computers will be in their new homes. The migration to the new desks will follow.

• The Global Learning Commons will open in late October – the first floor of the Atrium will feature a student-centred common area filled with comfortable seating, collaborative work spaces, more than 60 computers (and it’s wireless, of course), flooded with natural light. Plus a great new coffee shop too.

• The Atrium will open in early 2010 – and it will be worth the wait. Including classrooms, offices, group study rooms (bookable) and a 3-storey, living, green biowall, the Atrium will offer something for everyone.

In the coming weeks, you'll notice other improvements as well:

• More new study carels on the third floor
• Changes to our noise “policies”
• Group study spaces in the (former) Reserve Reading Room
• Podcasts to help you learn more about how the library works (go here to listen)
• A new teaching lab/computer space
• An IT person at our Information & Research Desk

But more on these later…

p.s. It’s not too late to let us know what you like/dislike about our new web site. We’re always trying to make it better, so email me at ron.houlihan@smu.ca if you have any suggestions.