The Consortium Library’s north entrance recently opened, so you can now enter the Library from either side of the building.  Stop by and check out our new circulation desk, multi-media room, and IT computer lab on the first floor!  The indoor campus walkway now extends from Rasmuson Hall to the north side of the Library, shortening the outdoor walk between the Library and the Administration and Integrated Science Buildings.

In October 2015, Consortium Library Dean Stephen Rollins wrote this about the upcoming project:

The North Entrance project is long overdue.  When the original 1973 library building was expanded in 2004, the new addition was designed to accommodate a second entrance on the north side of the building.  The plan was to add an arctic entryway once the demand justified its construction.  Based on frequent user comments and complaints and on user surveys, the demand for the north entrance has been steadily increasing over the years. The demand has increased as the campus expanded on the north side of the library building with the construction of the Conoco-Phillips Integrated Science Building, the parking garage, and the relocation of several humanities departments into the Administration Building.  The regular use of the Library for numerous public events every week has also increased the demand as more visitors come to campus and expect access to the building from the north side.  In fact the lack of a north entrance has been the number one complaint about the Library in recent years.

Using FY14 capital funding, the North Entrance project is more than just a second door for the building.  The project will greatly improve handicap access to the Library with parking spaces located just outside of the north entrance. The project also includes a second circulation service desk and a book security system.  With the second circulation desk, the multi-media collection will be moved near the north entrance improving service to this collection. By moving the multi-media collection, the student computer lab on the second floor will be moved to a preferred location on the first floor conveniently adjacent to the library’s reference desk.  Library users will benefit by having immediate access to both reference librarians and IT support.

It is expected that at least 5,000 visitors will use the north entrance weekly during the fall and spring semesters.  When the project is completed, there will be a second library circulation desk and better access to the building, the library collections, and the student computer lab.