2008 Woodie Awards
Langsdale Library Gets an Extreme Makeover
Nakea Hayes
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This spring, the University of Baltimore campus community will pull back the curtains and a new and improved Langsdale Library will be revealed. For the first time in 40 years, Langsdale is undergoing its first major renovation.
In July, Steve LaBash, director of the library, was informed by UB administration that the funds for the renovation were available and work could begin. LaBash has been at UB for 22 years and has been the director of the library for the past three years. In his time, LaBash has seen some minor changes to Langsdale, such as the addition of some offices and the electronic instruction room, but nothing this big.
During his June 2005 budget presentation, UB President Robert L. Bogomolny made the renovation of Langsdale one of his top priorities. Due to the support of Bogomolny, Provost Wim Wiewel, Ph.D., and the administration, renovations have begun.
The first and second floors of Langsdale will receive new paint and carpeting. The library will add 24 new PCs to the first floor where drilling for new electrical outlets and LAN connections have begun.
There will be a new video/DVD viewing area on the first floor near the picture windows in the front on the building. The second floor will see the addition of two or three group computer stations. These stations will have large screens to allow groups to complete group projects instead of cramming together in front of regular computer screens.
The goal of the new location is to allow staff to better serve users.
“The most noticeable change will be the movement of the reference desk and reference collection to the first floor,” LaBash said. “In the past, if someone needed assistance, they would have to go to the second floor which didn’t provide immediate assistance.”
The first step in the renovation process is the addition of a new electronic classroom on the fourth floor. New tables and chairs have arrived. There is a wait for additional furniture and the installation of computers, but the room is almost ready. The classroom will enhance the training sessions conducted by the library.
The library will still be accessible during renovations. The majority of the renovations will take place during the month of January when students are away for winter break. Langsdale staff is available to answer any questions about the ongoing plans.
Once the renovations are completed, the library will host a week of special activities. The activities will be announced later.
nakea.hayes@ubalt.edu
Library Hours:
8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
web – http://langsdale.ubalt.edu/news/renovation