The Melick library, after being under renovation for 2 years, has reopened this semester to offer many new amenities to students.
The building, which had not undergone a major remodel since it was constructed in 1967, is now part of Eureka College’s Student Success Center. In addition to Melick Library, the building houses the Office of Student Life, Career Services, the Learning Center and Student Success Coaches.
According to Librarian Kelly Fisher, one of the project’s primary aims was to bring several important student services together in one central location.
“The goal was to both remodel the library and combine multiple student services in one building so students would be able to find help in one central location on campus,” Fisher said.
Having offices closer together may also allow them to collaborate with each other. Fisher said that a student who needs help researching and writing a paper can now receive research assistance from library staff and writing assistance from the Learning Center without having to leave the building.
The renovation also restored a place for students to study, gather or simply spend leisure time between their classes. The building now includes three enclosed study rooms, an open seating area, comfortable furniture and a charging workspace alongside the main staircase.
Sin Pettingill, a junior at Eureka College, said the renovated building immediately felt different from the previous library.
“It was very new and modern compared to what the library used to look like,” Pettingill said. “There are a lot more amenities focusing on commuter students.”
For commuter students, finding somewhere to remain on campus between classes can be difficult. Pettingill believes the new seating provides students with an alternative to waiting in their cars for the long stretches between classes.
“It’s a lot more comfortable furniture for people to relax and not have to just sit in their car for hours on end,” Pettingill said.
Fisher said students had expressed that they missed the study areas available in the original library while Melick Library was temporarily located in Burgess Hall. The new spaces were designed with those student needs in mind.
The building’s main floor has also undergone a substantial redesign. Areas that once contained rows of books and back issues of periodicals have been converted into office suites. New carpeting, paint and energy-efficient lighting fixtures were installed throughout the building.
The library’s physical books will primarily be located on the upper floor once the next phase of the project is completed. Circulation services remain on the main floor near the entrance.
Fisher said the circulation desk has already developed an additional role within the Student Success Center.
“Our Circulation desk has become a de facto Information desk for the entire building,” Fisher said.
Library employees have helped visitors locate different offices and determine which staff member or department can best address their needs.
This broader role for librarians is also seen outside Eureka. Research examining academic libraries has considered how librarians contribute to their institutions and interact with the larger culture surrounding a college campus.
The resources available in Eureka’s building similarly extend beyond books and research assistance. Students can access computers and a printer, copier and scanner. The building also contains a branch of Eureka College’s food pantry, a lactation room and the Career Closet, which provides professional clothing for job interviews and work.
Career Services offers résumé assistance, mock interviews, career exploration and help with job searches. The Learning Center and Student Success Coaches provide tutoring arrangements, testing services, academic accommodations and other forms of student support.
Pettingill said the quieter environment and private study spaces could make the building particularly useful for students who need to concentrate or attend virtual classes.
“It’s a more quiet space than the Burgoo, so you can actually focus on what you’re studying,” Pettingill said. “There are a lot less distractions. You could probably go into one of the study rooms if you have a virtual class, too.”
Pettingill has also noticed more students using the library as the semester has continued.
“I feel like every time I go in there, there are more and more people,” Pettingill said.
As president of Eureka’s book club, Pettingill also sees the library as a place that can help students discover both academic resources and recreational materials. In addition to research materials and textbooks, students can find fiction, other leisure-reading books and movies in the library’s collection.
The renovation remains a work in progress. Phase 2 will involve returning more of the physical book collection and library furniture to the upper floor. Phase 3 is expected to update the lower-level classroom and create a commuter lounge.
In the future it is also expected that the building will host meetings, presentations, receptions and other campus programs.
Ultimately, Fisher said the combined services are intended to promote student success while helping students feel at home on campus.
With academic support, career resources, gathering spaces and even free coffee available each morning, the reopened Melick Library now offers students more than a place to check out books. It is becoming a central location where students can study, find assistance and spend time as part of the Eureka community.
