Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Geisel Library 2nd Floor Renovation Reveal on September 27, 2022. We would like to thank Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Simmons, Graduate and Professional Students Association President Giulia Corno, and Associated Students President Sky Yang for delivering remarks at the event and helping our senior leadership team cut the ribbon and welcome our community into the new spaces. And a big thank you to all event attendees and our Library employees who enthusiastically dedicated their time to help us provide information on our services and celebrate this momentous occasion.
This marks the completion of the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative, which kicked off in 2016 with the opening of Audrey’s Cafe and continued with the renovation of the 8th Floor in 2018 and now this remodel of our 2nd (main) Floor.
What’s Changed
- The total footprint of the renovation is approximately 18,700 square feet, which includes the entrance, lobby and main corridor. Of that, 7,800 square feet of employee workspace was converted to public user space. The renovated space will add 160 seats to the Library, creating additional comfortable spaces for students to study and collaborate.
- The renovation also brought us a brand-new gallery where we can showcase items from Special Collections & Archives and other works from campus. The inaugural exhibit curated by Special Collections & Archives Director Lynda Claassen, Shaping A Library, will be on display through the end of fall quarter.
- The opening of the renovated space also marks the beginning of an expanded 24/5 study space, encompassing the first and second floors of the Library – something UC San Diego students have asked about for many years.
- By winter quarter, students will also be able to access course textbooks and technology items like headphones 24/5 using the Library’s new BorrowBot, a self-service borrowing kiosk.
Overall, the renovation brightened up the space, making it more inviting. This remodel is a part of our commitment to supporting the learning and research needs of the community by staying up to date on the latest in library service and technology.
We hope you had fun at the event and enjoy your new library spaces! If you were not able to attend the event, we invite you to watch this video, which captures some of our favorite moments from the day.