September 14, 2017

SVSU hosting dedication ceremony to showcase renovations to Zahnow Library

Saginaw Valley State University will host a dedication ceremony in the Melvin J. Zahnow Library Thursday, Sept. 14 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The facility will be open for tours.

The interior of the library was remodeled extensively; the rooms and floors have been redesigned to showcase a more flexible design so that students can arrange furniture as they see fit for late night study session or group meetings. Along with the new furniture, the meeting rooms now offer new glass dry erase boards along one wall as well as the option to connect their devices to interactive screens that will display on another wall.

“The whole crux of this is that we want the space to be relevant to the students as they need it,” said Anita Dey, director of the Zahnow Library.

“If they need to meet with people for group projects, we want space for that. If they want to study with people but not necessarily work on a project, we want a space for that. When they really want a quiet environment so that they can concentrate, we wanted a space for that as well.”

Dey said that the library staff will be paying close attention to how students are making use of the new space.

“It’s really about asking ourselves what we can do for the students to create the environment that they need,” she said.

“If we see that we don’t have enough of a certain kind of space, we’ll see what we can do about making more like it. If we see a space that nobody is really attracted to, then maybe we try to do something else with it.”

The $9.5 million renovation began in summer 2016; the total project cost includes renovations to adjacent dining facilities. Community donors supplied much of the funding for the project; major donors included The Arnold and Gertrude Boutell Memorial Fund, The C.K. Eddy Family Memorial Fund, The Frank N. Andersen Foundation, The Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation, The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, and The William F. McNally Family Foundation.

“We appreciate the generosity of these committed donors to help ensure our students enjoy the best learning environment possible,” said SVSU President Don Bachand. “The community support we received has been instrumental in supplying the library with new resources that will help our students excel academically and keep them engaged in the outstanding education we offer outside of the classroom.”

Thursday’s dedication will include remarks from Bachand, Dey, and Deborah Huntley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. Following the ceremony, During the dedication, there will be refreshments offered as well as tours of the newly-renovated space.

Along with the updates to the library facility, the Starbucks on campus has been renovated, as has the food court that will soon open a new Panda Express.