New library opens to rave reviews

By Mary Georgevich

As soon as University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., Congressman Mike Honda and Provost Lucia Gilbert cut the ribbon at the new library on early Monday afternoon, shouts of, "This is amazing!" and, "Incredible!" could be heard as the excited crowd surged inside and began exploring the 194,000-square-foot building.

Students, faculty, staff and community members milled around checking out every room, corner and nook of the four-story Harrington Learning Commons -- from the organic goodies at the Sunstream Café to the third-level outdoor patios with plush lawn furniture.

"It's very colorful," said freshman Sydney LaCour. "It makes me excited to come to the library and work."

Monday marked the first day the $95 million study space was open to the public, a grand opening that came five months earlier than initially announced.

Ron Danielson, vice provost for information services and chief information officer, said the early opening will allow the staff to observe the ways students will use each of the areas of the library so the space can be adjusted to best accommodate students.

However, opening early did have its downside. The volumes of books that were set to be on shelves will not begin being moved from the Automated Retrieval System until the second week of the quarter, Danielson said.

The ARS will still be in use in the new library, but about 250,000 of the most popular volumes will be on open shelves for browsing.

Some of the space's features include 1,050 reader seats, 34 group study rooms, three video viewing and taping rooms, two technology training rooms and a multimedia laboratory.

Some computers were not yet installed, and some rooms had not been set up. However, students flocked to the many Apples and Dells that were ready for use. In an effort to continue updating technology, Danielson said he has pledged to replace the Dell XPS gaming machines every two years, instead of the four-year cycle that is used for the rest of the campus machines.

The learning commons houses a variety of seating and study areas, with most of the seats equipped with wheels in order to allow students to arrange the space in the most useful way. Many students say they appreciate the thought that was put into the space.

"You can tell that they really wanted a study space for kids," said freshman Annie Espinosa. "They wanted it to be more than a library."

Espinosa was a fan of the group study rooms, noting the 40-inch LCD screens in each of the 25 group study rooms as especially impressive.

After signing up for the room on a digital screen outside its door, students can connect their personal computers to the LCD screens so that group members can see what they are working on. The rooms, which have seating for six to eight people, are also equipped with video cameras that can be used for practicing presentations. In one group study room, "This is sweet!" was written on the floor-to-ceiling white boards that line two of the walls in each room.

In addition to the Harrington Learning Commons, the building was given two more names -- the Sobrato Technology Center and Orradre Library -- to incorporate some of the biggest donors, as well as different uses for the space, Danielson said.

Lorry Lokey, the largest single donor, named the learning commons after his longtime companion, Joanne Harrington. The Sobrato family demonstrated an interest in the technological aspects of the building, so they were given the naming rights to the technology center. And Locatelli promised that the Orradre name, also the title of the former library, would continue to be associated with the library to recognize the family's longtime support of the university, Danielson said.

At the grand opening, the festivities started with music played by the university pep band and speeches from Locatelli, Honda and Gilbert. Many different groups associated with the university, including members of the neighboring community, were invited to view the open house and take self-guided tours, and samples of some snack foods were passed out in front of the Sunstream Café, which opened after the open house on Monday.

"My favorite part would have to be the café," said sophomore Sarah Towey. "It looks pretty cool."

Unlike the former Orradre Library, food and drinks are allowed in all areas of the learning commons. On the third floor, electronic devices are forbidden in the St. Clare room. This room, which is named for the statue that will stand there, will house author readings, meetings of the Board of Trustees and Board of Regents, as well as numerous other events.

However, the staff "wants it to be mostly a student space," Danielson said.

The room is outfitted with wooden furniture, large windows with blackout shades, and a retractable projector and screen that will allow for the room to be used in many different ways.

The St. Clare room was a popular space with the students on Monday.

"I like the St. Clare room," said sophomore Francesca LeBaron. "It's absolutely beautiful."

The three open terraces on the third floor offer students a chance to enjoy the California weather. Senior Sarah Rahman said they were her favorite part of the new space.

"I would love to read outside and study outside. It's gorgeous," she said.

Phil Kesten, associate provost for undergraduate studies and physics professor, said he would like to take advantage of the new space in his classes.

"The technology in this building offers us opportunities that we didn't have before," he said.

The new building's construction began at the end of the school year in June 2006, when the former Orradre Library was demolished. The new building is nearly twice the size of the old library.

"Right now, we're just barely under budget," Danielson said.

As of the end of February, $4 million still needs to be raised to pay for the building. Nancy Calderon, assistant vice president for development, said conversations are currently taking place about generating a little more than $3 million of that.

Guided tours of the learning commons are being held today at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Friday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Interim Library space, portable buildings which were used during construction of the new learning commons, has been removed from its location near Buck Shaw stadium and the parking garage.

Contact Mary Georgevich at (408) 554-4546 or mgeorgevich@scu.edu.