Improved library now open

With the new school year came a new and improved look for the UCF Library.

Over the summer, the second floor of the library underwent a makeover and the changes were unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of Aug. 23, the first day of classes.

Barry Baker, director of the UCF libraries, spoke prior to the cutting of the ribbon.

"This is really your space," said Baker. "It's your ideas, and [that's] exactly what we used when we created this."

The UCF Library worked closely with both students and faculty to determine what should go into the new space, said Baker.

According to Meg Scharf, associate director for public services at the UCF Libraries, there were 102 computers added to the second floor, which brings the new total of computers on that floor to 196. Scharf estimates that there were close to 200 computers available in the entire library one year ago, 94 of which were on the newly remodeled floor.

In addition to the new computers, the new space offers seating for 479 people. There are also more electrical outlets for students to use for items like personal laptops.

The library drew from several funds in order to finance this project.

The total cost for the project was $1,526,757, according to Scharf. Almost 60 percent of the funds — $902,757 to be exact — came from the UCF technology fee. The library funded $614,000 and the UCF Foundation Annual Campaign Fund provided $10,000.

"These improvements are an important first step in creating a 21st century library environment for UCF," Scharf said.

In 1967, construction began on what was then known as the Florida Technological University Library.

Construction was completed in July of 1968, according to the Florida Technological University Library Annual Report for that year. At that time, the total student enrollment was 1,948 students, according UCF's Office of Institutional Research.

Today, the UCF Library provides service to over 35,000 users during a typical mid-semester week, according to the UCF Libraries website. The Office of Institutional Research calculates total enrollment at 53,644 students as of fall 2009.

Among the many new improvements, the new outlets installed have been a hit with UCF students.

"I bring my own laptop," said junior criminal justice major Luiggi Cordova, "so I like that section over there that has the [outlets]."

Cordova said it will now be easier to find a seat near an outlet because he used to have such trouble with that before the remodeling.

Gwen Tsai, a senior biotechnology major, said she likes the fact that there is more seating and printers available to students.

Tsai also said that while she feels that there are times when UCF is wasteful with her tuition funds, she likes the fact that her tuition helped pay for the changes in the library.

Cordova agreed that this was a worthwhile way to spend the money.

Also present for the event were Michael Kilbride and Taylor Lochrane, SGA's president and vice president, respectively.

SGA is also pursuing its own plans to provide more access to computers and study areas for students.

"We're working on a 24-hour study space to expand library study space over on the north end [of campus]," Kilbride said.

He said the space will be similar to the library's second floor with space for study groups to meet and technology for students to use.