A $3.5 million construction project set to add study space, public access computers, a café and improved furnishings began earlier this month at the Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Library inside the Agricultural Administration Building.
Credit: Thomas Williams / Lantern photographer
A $3.5 million construction project set to add study space, public access computers, a café and improved lighting and furnishings began earlier this month at the Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Library.
The renovation is a joint venture between University Libraries and the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State spokeswoman for Administration and Planning Lindsay Komlanc said in an email.
Construction is set to include building new services and spaces to modernize the library, Komlanc said.
“Features include five group study rooms with network connectivity, a large open study area with flexible seating, a computer bar with public access computers, and much improved lighting and furnishings throughout. A coffee café will also be available in an adjacent lobby area also undergoing renovation,” Komlanc said.
Komlanc said increasing access electronically to existing print collections is slated to also be a focus during renovations.
“The FAES Library and Student Success Center will offer a focused print collection for the research and study needs of constituents in the college, but will emphasize electronic access to information, and collaboration among students, CFAES faculty, library staff and others in the college and beyond,” Komlanc said.
The project is slated for completion in early 2015.
Lauren Subler, third-year in city and regional planning who has been a student assistant at the FAES Library for the past two years, said she’s looking forward to the renovations drawing in more people.
“Right now, only the people that are on this campus (West Campus) come here, but once renovations are done and the café is added, more people will come and utilize the library,” Subler said.
The library is located at 2120 Fyffe Road.
Melanie Barbis, a fourth-year in environmental science, said she has gone to the library three or four times a week for the past two years. She said libraries like the 18th Avenue Library and the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library are better study spots than the FAES Library for several reasons.
“They’re definitely better quality and have more to offer … I’m here (on West Campus) until 7 o’clock at night so it’ll be nice to have more available, like computers and coffee and things like that, so I don’t have to go all over the place,” Barbis said.
During construction, FAES Library services will be housed in room 322 of Howlett Hall, located at 2001 Fyffe Court.
