USU Eastern is an ever-expanding university that is available to all those that wish to further their education in the Castle Country area and more.
One of the latest projects that has come to fruition is the Library and Learning Commons (LLC). While it is true that the library has been a staple for the college for quite some time, the learning commons is a new addition, bringing many amenities with it.
Lori Brassaw has worked at the institution for 15 years and has been the director for the library for seven of those years. Last spring, according to Brassaw, they were tasked with turning the library into a library and learning commons. This is not particularly new to librarianship, but it is for the area. The main USU campus has had a learning commons for about 10 years.
Brassaw stated that students, faculty and staff as well as the community will walk into the library and first take note of the how open the main area now is. The printed works have all been moved to the second level of the library, allowing the main level to be a spacious and well-lit area for those that wish to study.
The library has acquired a total of 16 new computers this year. Four of those computers are Mac desktops. The PCs are all touch screen, showing that the library is working hard to have updated technology for student use.
While the main floor acts as mainly a technology and study area, there are also tutoring areas, individual study rooms and more. One of the reasons to expand the library, other than keeping with the times, is that there is a lot of history archived in the library and the additional space was needed to accommodate those resources. It was noted by Brassaw that the library often receives contact from individuals that are looking for archived history and primary sources.
The community is also able to make use of the library. For $25, a community member is able to obtain a library card. However, access to the electronic data is not available off campus. While visiting the library, that information is obtainable and the computers are available to use for upwards of an hour at a time to access e-resources.
Amy Peters, team leader for the learning commons, also spoke on the addition. She stated that a major reason for the expansion is to support the academic success of the students.
“We want this to be the center of the campus,” Peters stated.
To draw in the students and help them academically succeed, math and science tutors have relocated to the library. The skills lab is now titled the Aggie Center for Enrichment (ACE) and is available for students that wish to take non-credit classes that can assist you with math, English and the like. Many other programs are offered through ACE such as the Microsoft Office Specialist certification.
Also coming to the library and learning commons is a communication commons for students, a room for prayer, meditation and reflection, and more. The school recognizes that schooling has changed over time and included in the new area is modular furniture, desks and white boards to help maximize a student’s studying capabilities.
“We realize that students learn differently now,” stated Brassaw.
There have been building phases that have gone along with this addition, which have been generating since the first of the year. Brassaw and her staff have been gracious in all the moves, taking the books and moving them upstairs as well as moving the ACE lab and the tutors.
The next phase will be phase three. During phase three, architects will meet with Brassaw and Peters to talk logistics on the building. There will hopefully be plans for a snacking area added to accommodate student’s hunger needs. Construction is slated to begin in May of 2018.
However, the structure of the building will not change. It was built in what is called the brutalism style of architecture back in 1968. According to an architect at USU, it is one of the few examples of brutalism architecture in rural Utah. Unique features will not change with construction.
Currently, LLC hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Visit their Facebook page, USU Eastern Library and Learning Commons, for upcoming activities and possible schedule changes.
A ribbon cutting and open house for the library and learning commons will take place on Nov. 1 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. featuring refreshments and more. The ribbon is scheduled to be cut at 12:30 p.m.
