By Deanna Garcia

With redesigned floors, a modernized circulation, question mark-shaped reference desks, contemporary study-group rooms, accent-furnished seating areas and everywhere outlets, the first floor of Lehman’s Leonard Lief Library officially left the ’80s after a year of rigorous renovations.

The library’s old design consisted of computers for printing and tons of towering bookshelves with the same look it had since 1980; now the study environment across the rooms has been reinforced with new equipment such as monitors for students to prepare for presentations. Changes also include a revamp of the two teaching labs in the library’s basement, Concourse Level.

“We’re very much interested in working with students in order to train them on how to navigate information,” said chief librarian Kenneth Schlesinger.

Approximately 300 students participated in a survey conducted by the library’s Public Service Group in 2018, to help improve the premise’s environment; all inputs were used in the construction’s planning.

“Students were looking for a variety of study configurations, and I think we addressed that in a more proactive way by having the individual terminals and seats, but also having the group settings,” said Schlesinger. “We built this space for students and had them in mind primarily; we wanted to respond to their needs and support their success and research.”

The library partnered up with H2M Architects and Engineers, a professional consulting and design firm, to make this renovation possible.

“A design process and concept was needed in order to create a more vibrant environment for students which was proposed by the library staff in multiple meetings. We wanted to brighten up the space a little bit,” H2M project architect Erik Heuler told the Meridian.

This entailed replacing tall dull-looking bookshelves with shorter stands to allow more sunlight into the room, and brown-gray furniture with bright-colored models for a more lively and welcoming appearance.

The new 3-foot-tall reference desk, shaped like an iconic question mark, is now located towards the front of the library instead of the back like before. Schlesinger called the old model a “4-foot barrier” between students and service.

“We wanted to be friendly, accessible and where students would feel comfortable approaching and to make sure the encounter is equally matched,” he said about the reference desk.

Lehmanites now have plenty of space and can even enjoy individual chair pods for a more private and focused study experience. Some students, excited for the library’s new structure, expressed a higher motivation to study.

“I am a very visual person and my environment can dictate a lot for me. The renovation makes me excited to study in such an aesthetic area,” said Jenifer Calix Marin, a senior nursing major, who spends about 26 hours or more weekly at the library.

“Rather than trying to hunt for an open outlet in the library, like I used to, and trying to snack discreetly, I now enjoy having more tables and outlets in an area where I can snack simultaneously. [It] allows me to work for longer periods of time,” said biology graduate, Lamisha Shia.

New looks and comforts aside, the renovation came at some cost to student focus. Schlesinger said that students did complain about the noise as well during finals week.

“Unfortunately, it was unavoidable just in terms of the construction calendar,” he said. “We tried to schedule it early in the day for it to be less disruptive for students to work.”

This is not the end for updating the other floors of the library.

“What we’re really hoping is that we can show people the first floor and what we’ve done with it to use it as leverage to get renovation for the second and third floor so that the library is new and state-of-the-art,” said Schlesinger.

Lehman’s library will have an official grand opening on March 19.