The Music Library in Ewell Hall is showing off its new makeover this fall! Over the summer, Kathleen DeLaurenti, Music Librarian, and Diane Dudley, Music Library Assistant, enlisted the help of student employees to get some new paint on the walls, move some of the LP collection to offsite storage, and make room for some thrilling new improvements.
Last year, the librarians teamed up with Hannah Ostroff ’13, choir member and music library student assistant, to ask students all over campus what they wanted from an updated music library. Students who participated in the focus groups were interested in everything from sleeping pods to coffee to updated technology. We listened to all of the helpful feedback and on September 5th the library opened with some exciting changes.
The first change you’ll notice is the furniture. New Herman Miller chairs and movable tables along with some armchairs and a new couch will allow students to work more collaboratively and comfortably. The library also features a new service desk and new CD cabinets. CDs are now in open stacks and in the process of being re-labeled so that anyone in the library can easily browse the collection.
In addition to making the space more comfortable, functional, and easy to use, there have been some significant updates to technology. Students now have access to two Mac workstations that mirror all of the software and functionality available in our Swem media studios. A midi-keyboard and 11” x 17” scanner are also available to help with scanning sheet music, editing arrangements, and preparing parts. Along with an additional midi-keyboard, 14 pairs of Sennheiser headphones, two Mackie Black Jack USB recording interfaces, and two Rode M3 microphones with stands are available to students and faculty for 3 day checkout. Printing has also become part of the campus network and wireless printing from your laptop is available as well.
The updates aren’t quite complete yet – sometime this semester a 72”-inch flat screen TV for collaboration and viewing will be installed. “We’re really hoping that in addition to the changes we’ve made so far, the new viewing station will allow us to have programming in the library as well. We’d love to host documentary films, lectures, and other events on Friday nights when we generally aren’t open for studying,” said Kathleen DeLaurenti, Music Librarian.
You can visit the Music Library in Ewell Hall 250 Sundays 1-10pm, Monday-Thursday 8am-10pm, Friday 8am-5pm, and Saturday 1-5pm or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wmmusiclibrary. Let us know what you think!