Mudd Library will remain closed due to construction until after Thanksgiving break. The renovations, which have been taking place since early June, will include improved study spaces and house the relocated student Learning Center.
Librarian Jessica Wahl said she believes that the library space will be much improved.
“There’s going to be more separation for a loud area and a quiet study area,” Wahl said. “The new library is going to look updated and inviting.”
Wahl said while the temporary library in the Feldman-Horn Gallery has met students’ needs, she looks forward to the completion of the renovated library.
“[The gallery] has been used well by students, but it’s more difficult because we have constant construction noise, and the ceilings are pretty echoey,” Wahl said. “[We librarians] definitely see less students than we’re used to, so we’re hoping that once [the library is complete], students will want to come in, hang out and study. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”
Hannah Biggins ’25 said she frequented the library before the renovation and is disappointed that it has not been completed.
“It is upsetting to me that the library is still under renovation despite it already being second quarter,” Biggins said. “During my sophomore year, the library was one of my favorite places on campus. I always loved the lively feeling, the perpetually unfinished jigsaw puzzle and the [general ambiance].”
Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said with the opening of the library rapidly approaching, she is thinking of ways to reintroduce students to the space.
“It seems like it is on track to be completed [soon],” Slattery said. “Now, we’re trying to figure out what kind of opening we are going to have, and whether it will just be a soft opening, where people can just go in, or if we’d like to give tours.”
President Rick Commons said he is optimistic that the new space will better fulfill the needs of students.
“From what I can see, it’s going to be fantastic,” Commons said. “There are going to be many more study spaces, and the learning center is going to be there. We’ll have opportunities for the faculty and staff who are involved with teaching, learning and data science [to be] in the same zone. It’ll be a much more useful and concentrated space, both for faculty and for students.”
Tess Rosenfeld ’25 said the renovated space will bring new opportunities for students.
“[The construction] has limited the amount of time I spend on campus, because there is no space that fits my needs,” Rosenfeld
said. “[However], I’m excited to have a better location to host the summer program I run, [called] Harvard-Westlake (HW) Inc.”
