This blog details the three-year journey to renovate Hale Library after the May 22, 2018, fire.
This blog has allowed us to share our journey of recovery with the K-State and library communities both near and far. We will never forget the generosity and outpouring of support as we worked to rebuild and create a next-generation library.
It’s finals week at K-State, and in Hale Library, study spaces are filling up!
For the first time since the fire, students prepping for final exams and projects are able to use nearly the entire building to study. In addition to the popular collaboration rooms and moveable white boards on the first floor, students have made use of the second floor computer commons, study nooks and tables on the third and fourth floors and the extra collaboration rooms on the upper floors.
We stopped to (quickly!) chat with a few students studying in the library to hear about how their week is going and how the Libraries have helped support their success.
Taylor Stephens, a sophomore studying biology, made use of the comfortable soft seating on the second floor. “I like how they have a café now, because it can give you that little boost of energy with coffee or a snack.”Joshua East, a senior studying kinesiology, said Hale Library “is a good alternative place to study. Most of my classes are online, so I spend a lot of time at home usually, but it gets me on campus and gives me a quiet place to study.” Alexis Cushshon, a senior majoring in architectural engineering, said she likes the Libraries course reserves program, which allows students to borrow textbooks for specific courses. “I like that Hale Library has free access to textbooks, allowing me to save money.”Earlier in the week, night operations associate Steve Greinke handed out goodie bags to students studying and working late in Hale Library. Thank you to Cats for Clean Air and K-State Counseling Services for helping us create these awesome goodie bags!Emmett Lockridge, a second year in interior architecture, said he appreciates the quiet atmosphere Hale Library offers. “I like how quiet it’s been. It’s been nice for me to focus.” Students studying in one of the first floor collaboration rooms grabbed some Finals Week goodie bags before getting back to business.
Thank you to all the students who took a little break to chat with us, and to our staff and faculty for making finals week a little brighter for our students.
Congratulations to all those graduating this week! We wish you all the best in your next chapter.
