The North Reading Room has a fresh new look! Earlier this spring, we shared plans to refresh one of the library’s most popular study spaces. We now have new seating, updated group study rooms, and improvements designed to make the North Reading room more comfortable, flexible, and welcoming.
Whether you’re spending a few minutes between classes or settling in for an afternoon of studying, you’ll notice several enhancements throughout the reading room.
More Comfortable Places to Study
The computer workstations on the first floor now feature new ergonomic chairs with improved back support and cushioned seats, making it easier to stay comfortable during longer study sessions.
You’ll also find nine new high-backed lounge chairs throughout the space. Their curved, fabric-covered design helps absorb noise while creating cozy, semi-private spots for reading, studying, or working on your laptop. The Central Reading Room has also added nine of these chairs to its space, which will be conveniently located near our upcoming Popular Fiction Collection.
Better Spaces for Collaboration
The black couches near the north-facing windows on the first and second floors have been replaced with bistro tables, creating more flexible seating for individuals and pairs. The new tables also provide easier access to electrical outlets for charging laptops, phones, and other devices.
We replaced the tables in study rooms NG1-A and NG2-A with higher work surfaces that provide a more comfortable setup for collaboration.
We’ve also reconfigured some of our existing furniture to create more inviting gathering spaces. The large S-shaped couches located at the top of the stairs on the second floor stairs have been transformed into three smaller seating clusters, each centered around a coffee table. Two of these groupings also include lounge chairs with attached work surfaces, offering additional options for studying or meeting with classmates.
A Quieter Silent Study Experience
Students looking for a distraction-free environment will notice another improvement. New sound-dampening hanging panels have been installed at the entrances to the Core Silent Study area and help to reduce noise from nearby collaborative spaces and preserve the quiet atmosphere many students rely on.
We hope you’ll stop by, explore the refreshed spaces, and find your new favorite place to study in the University Libraries. See you soon!
Photographs taken by John Griffin.