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Redesigned Library Spaces

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Welcome to the newly renovated Reading Rooms of the Frank J. Melville, Jr. Memorial Library! Our vision was to transform the spaces with technology improvements, new furniture, and space management that would make our library a more welcoming place, where students can study together or work individually in an environment conducive to academic engagement and success.
 

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Increased Seating

  • The 55,000 sq. ft. space has almost 1,000 seats in both rooms, a 150% increase from 2000 to 2016.

Flexible Learning Spaces

  • Individual
  • Group
  • Study rooms with collaborative technologies
  • BYOD furniture

Single-Service Point

  • Both rooms feature single service points, combining technology and library services.

Strong. Acoustic. Green. 

  • Flooring and furniture materials were specifically selected for their durability, green credentials, and acoustic suitability.

More Technology, Better Wifi, Loads of Outlets

  • Increased wifi access points (approx. 60) and more than 1,200 outlets across both rooms
  • 92 desktop computers (46 in each room), 5 printers and 4 copy/scan machines

24-Hour Service in the Central Reading Room

 

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¨Ask us! The rooms are always staffed with library and research experts.

¨In-person and online reference service with expert librarians available during the day and on weekends.

¨In-depth research assistance.

¨Printing and computing in both rooms.

¨Scanning and copying in both rooms.

¨Technology assistance in both rooms.

North Reading Room

Center of research and instruction

  • It features a 30-seat flexible learning lab
  • 12 technology-enabled collaboration rooms with online reservation system
  • A single-service point featuring library services
  • Seating that supports individual and group study
  • A seating configuration that maximizes natural light
  • Student art exhibit area.

 

Central Reading Room

Center of community

  • It features a gallery space currently exhibiting two collections
    from the University Archives: “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,
    Interpreted by Salvatore Dali.” and “Stony Brook on the Map:
    Selections from the University Archives and Special Collections”
  • A 100-person flexible event space to host music, lectures, etc.
  • A reading nook featuring current periodicals and newspapers.
  • Two computer-enabled classrooms for library and technology instruction
  • Group study rooms with collaborative technologies

Library staff are available throughout the spaces to tell you about the features and answer any questions you may have. Look for the red “Ask Us” buttons!

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North Reading Room 

 Central Reading Room

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  • Redesigned library spaces
    North Reading Room study area