Visit the newly refurnished Library Reading Room!

Meet your new favorite place to study! Try out the new furniture on the second floor Reading Room and upper balcony. (Read the full story to see more photos!)

The Library is thrilled to announce a major upgrade to the second floor reading room and upper mezzanine level!  Brand new couches, comfy chairs, high-backed booths, ottomans, and study carrels give this popular “quiet study” zone a fresh, modern look. (Scroll through the images to the right or check out the reading room photo gallery).

Felted coverings on two bistro-style booths and five individual carrels on the upper mezzanine (aka the balcony) will help reduce noise and serve as cozy, distraction-reducing study nooks. With two large sectional couches and plenty of smaller chairs, laptop tables, and ottomans, the space now offers more soft seating as well as more flexibility– something students have been requesting for years.

In keeping with the Library’s and College’s values of sustainability, older furniture in good condition that was removed from this area will be redistributed throughout the Library.

Many thanks to Capital Planning and Facilities staff for making this happen, in particular: Anne-Marie Russillo (Capital Planning, Project Manager), Adolfo Rios (Facilities, Custodian), Eileen DeGiuseppe (Library, Assistant to Director), and the entire team at Workspace!

Finally, a couple notes on access:

  • To reach the second floor, take the stairs or elevator from the lobby.
  • Unfortunately, the upper mezzanine is only accessible by stairs; we recognize the barrier this poses for library patrons with mobility issues. An architectural redesign was not possible, so we have worked within existing building limitations to disperse a variety of flexible furniture of different heights and styles throughout the second floor.
  • Please remember that the second floor is a “quiet study” zone and that no food and drink are allowed. (You may eat and drink in the 2012 Lounge).