Health Sciences Library renovations welcome Stratford campus students

From the added private study stations to the new carpeting and the comfortable, centrally positioned couches, the new renovations in the library at the School of Osteopathic Medicine debuted recently to uniformly rave reviews from staff and students alike.

“Our surveys with students indicated that providing more study spaces was one of our greatest needs in redesigning the library,” said Janice Skica, MS, director of the Health Sciences Library on the Stratford campus.

The newly configured space within the library responds to that need with the addition of  new study spaces, including five new carrels (called “cubbies” by many SOM students) positioned by the windows that line the exterior walls of the library. All told, the library can now accommodate 230 individual study spaces that are designed to provide for private, independent study as well as group work.

“This renovation was a high priority for us this year,” said Dr. Thomas Cavalieri, Dean of the School of Osteopathic Medicine. “We already knew we had world-class resources and an excellent library staff for our students. Now, the furnishings and design are also up to that standard.”

Along with the new furniture and study stations, the $250,000 library renovation includes new paint and carpeting, new lighting at the study stations all of which are wired to provide access to electricity and a new charging station located near the center of the library.

Looking around the room, Skica says, “The library feels like a totally new place and, from both solicited and unsolicited student comments, I know that they are as proud of our new look as the entire library staff is.”

A project of this scope and importance requires the support of many hands to complete and Skica pointed out that it would not have been possible without support from Dr. Cavalieri and the direction and efforts of Josh Lubin, Chrissy Beswick, Andrew Wagner, Ed Senlick, Rich Rosetti, and Mark Muldrow and their staff.

According to Skica, the entire remodeling process, which began with planning and design sessions a year ago, was “a great experience” although one that isn’t yet completed.

“We still have a few minor tweaks to make the library even better,” she added.