Academic libraries are essential for students and faculty

Photo courtesy of Photo Editor Faith Zatlukal

Milne Library's $40 million renovation is finally finished after five years of continuous construction. Within these years, the reconstruction of Milne Library has caused immense stress for faculty members and students alike. Construction began in 2019, which immediately displaced the library archives and other collection materials. The transition from Milne Library to Fraser Hall Library hindered many students' success, some of whom even graduated without gaining the full library experience. Some students have also used their public libraries as a reliable and capable resource. Students have been utilizing the Wadsworth Library to restore the college library experience. There have been many ways to work around this decrease in study spaces on campus. Still, now that there is a functioning library on campus, students and faculty members have the ability to depend on their library resources.

Libraries serve an important role in our society. They are a gateway to information as they provide various tools and services that foster learning, such as preserving historical and cultural materials, research assistance, movie and music streaming, interlibrary loans (ILL), programs for all ages, and many more. Libraries are viewed as a safety net for communities across the globe. The amount of resources made available to community members is more than just book rentals, and it is important that we, as students, utilize these resources as the Milne Library finally opens its doors.

The library contributes to students' long-term academic experience. The college library is the catalyst of student life, as it offers a variety of resources for students and faculty members. The cost of not having a library for an extended amount of time has been detrimental to student success on campus. It is no secret that Fraser Hall Library is far too small to satisfy the ratio of students and faculty needing library resources. There has been a massive decrease in quiet areas on campus, causing students to need help finding a quiet, relaxing environment to catch up on work between classes. There is not only limited seating for students in Fraser Hall Library but also a need for more space for technology services and librarians.

Without the use of a proper library on campus, it has been difficult for incoming students to establish themselves in a community where they feel seen or supported. This has been an incredibly long and harrowing process for students who have seen Geneseo undergo multiple construction projects. The construction of Shrader Hall, the Milne Library, and the College Green led students to feel distressed on campus. 

Milne Library will include more study space for students, a new cafe, group study rooms, increased seating, multipurpose rooms for campus activities, and more. After five long years, students will finally be met with the appropriate necessities to ensure their success.

If you have been waiting to visit the Milne Library, please do so! We have all been waiting to get familiar with the new and improved library. Ask questions, look at the collections, and check out new books and video options, archives, and other technology sources that will be available to you. Now is the perfect time to utilize library resources in all its glory!