My Davidson | A Student Blog How to Use the College Library During Renovations

​​Thanks to the efforts and countless hours of planning by our library staff, the resources and spaces that made the library vital to the student experience have been preserved from the disturbances of construction. 

What is essentially the main floor of the library has been transferred – with the same furniture, a circulation desk, and special collections – to the Lilly Gallery in Chambers Building. The silent study once relegated to the basement of the old library can now be found and enjoyed in the Tomlinson conference room. There are also classrooms in Chambers that can be reserved on the library website for group study. Each of these spaces had a specific utility that made them, and the former E.H. Little Library, a vibrant communal and intellectual hub on campus. All of these spaces and their benefits have been preserved in a way that would not be possible without the thought and care that went into making sure the library can serve its purpose while its main building undergoes needed renovations.

Additionally, our library books are being kept a short distance away in the library annex, which will store all books and materials once held in the old library while the new library is under construction. Books can be ordered and sent to the Lilly Gallery space, and visits to the annex can be arranged on the library website with ease. I have already checked out five books myself and did not feel any extra burden or constraints. Library staff work hard to make sure you can check out your books on the same day you submit a request.

Walking into the Lilly Gallery portion of our library, you can find library staff and student workers (including myself) ready to help you at the front desk. We are happy to connect with all library patrons in need of assistance with anything from checking out books and solving technical issues to helping connect them with resources and supporting their research needs. Being able to engage with so many members of the college has been my privilege for the last three years as I have worked in our changing library to assist the many people the library, its staff, and its great resources are here to support. 

For those who are not familiar with the library or don't often need to use it and its resources, I urge you to learn about what we have to offer and to get oriented with our new spaces. 

Whatever work you are doing at the college, there’s a way to make it easier with help from the library. 

I hope to see you at the front desk!