Tulsa World: TU library revises its space on campus

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TU library revises its space on campus

University of Tulsa Senior Ryan Nutsch works Saturday in the newly added computer room at the McFarlin Library. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published: 10/4/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 10/4/2009 4:22 AM

The University of Tulsa library has completed a renovation designed to meet the evolving needs of students and faculty while maintaining the integrity of the almost 80-year-old building.

It's the first major renovation to the McFarlin Library since 1979. In the past two years, 12,000 square feet were added.

In a state of the university speech last week, President Steadman Upham included the library project in a list of campus-development success stories.

"It has turned out to be a spectacular renovation," he said.

The changes reclaimed reading rooms that had been hastily converted to computer labs in the 1990s.

"They weren't really conducive to the purpose, and it was also taking away from the regular library space," said Adrian Alexander, dean of the library.

New computer labs and classrooms were created in the added areas, which are now accessible to students 24 hours a day, he said.

The new space is connected to the original building with large skylights that allow ample sunshine to flow through the building at midday.

Since the renovation was complete in April, students and faculty have flocked to the library.

More than 7,000 people passed through its doors in one week last month — triple the number recorded for any other week, Alexander said.

"We started seeing people in the reading rooms and computer labs almost immediately," he said.

The changes also include widening the space surrounding the circulation desk, adding a commons area and building a cafe.

Campus libraries are no longer just a place for quiet, individual reading and study.

Students and faculty need space to work together on projects or just meet over a cup of coffee, Alexander said.

He referred to the library as an "academic town square."

"The library is the place where those academic disciplines break down," Alexander said. "It's where the university really is a university."

He said he would like to create more space for group work and continue to alter the library as necessary to meet students' evolving needs.

The latest changes put the building in a better place to do this successfully, he said.

"It's a pretty fun place to be right now, and we're really proud of it," he said.

Shannon Muchmore 581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer

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