The Spahr Engineering Library at the University of Kansas is undergoing renovations to include more amenities for students. The renovations include tripling the number of group study rooms to nine, each with a TV and dry erase walls. A new cafeteria and more computer/desk space will be added to the first floor. The second floor will contain additional group study rooms and a tutoring room, along with comfortable seating areas. A quiet study section with spacious tables and soundproofed bookshelves will also be included. The renovated library is aimed at providing more advanced and collaborative spaces for students and becoming more visible as a partner with the School of Engineering.

1. 11/15/15, 8:21 PMFirst look: Renovations in Spahr Library include variety of new amenities - The University Daily Kansan: News
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First look: Renovations in Spahr Library include
variety of new amenities
By: Madi Schulz | @Mad_Dawgg | Posted: Thursday, July 9, 2015 4:05 pm
Spahr Engineering Library is getting a serious facelift this
summer, along with other renovations to Eaton Hall,
which houses the School of Engineering.
“There’s a pretty big before–after I think,” said Jeromy
Horkman, director of public operations for KU Libraries.
“Students who have studied here before are going to be
very surprised at the new amenities and the new
remodeled space overall.”
Beginning on the first floor is the circulation and service
desk where students can check out their materials,
including technology such as laptops and calculators.
Horkman said the staff is “very knowledgeable and very
willing to help.”
Past the front desk is one of the main draws: five of the
nine new group study rooms. This new number triples the number of group study rooms available.
Each group study room features its own TV which can be hooked up to personal laptops. Two entire
walls in each study rooms are dry erase boards. Reserving a room will be similar to the Anschutz Library
system, where students simply have to go online to Spahr’s website.
The increased number of group study rooms reflects the needs of students at the University.
“Being a research institution, there’s a lot of collaboration… [KU] libraries are continually working to
grow with that trend, and places like this allow for that growth,” said LeAnn Meyer, communications
coordinator with KU Libraries. “Whether it’s finals time, mid-semester, really any time in the semester,
rooms like this are a huge draw for students.”
Another feature on the first and second floor are new square, wooden lockers students can rent to hold
their belongings.
The first floor will also be the home of a new cafeteria, located right at the crossroads of the old Spahr
Spahr Library
More open study areas will be available in
the Spahr Engineering Library. The library
is currently being renovated to become
more advanced for students.

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Library, as well as more computer and desk space for students to utilize.
The rest of the group study rooms are housed on the second floor, at a slightly larger size, along with a
tutoring room. Outside of the group study rooms, there are many modern, comfortable chairs with
attached desks for students to sit and study.
Through closable double doors is the quiet section with new, spacious tables where students can study.
Designers of the space also tapered the bookshelves to offer more privacy and sound buffering, Horkman
said. Windows line the quiet room, offering a view of the front lawns and courtyard. The onsite
librarian’s office will also be in the upstairs quiet area.
Aside from the amenities of the new library renovations, its location also has added benefits, Horkman
said.
“I think in the case of just being partners with the School of Engineering, to make this happen in the
crossroads [of the building] is especially helpful,” Horkman said. “It really opens up to the new building
to increase our visibility and the services we have to offer to help students.”
Although the library is located in the engineering building, the library is open to all students. Horkman
and Meyer said locations seems to play a larger part in students’ decisions of where to study. Spahr will
open at the tentative date of Aug. 3.