UNK TODAY
Saturday, August 24, 2024 | 19
Playing a lot of roles $25M project will improve functionality, layout of library
RICK BROWN rick@yardlightmedia.com
KEARNEY — The pur- pose of academic libraries keeps changing. “Libraries have had a lot of roles over the years,” said Evan Boyd, Dean of the Calvin T. Library. “The one that people know the most is the warehousing — or the holding — of ‘the stuff.’ But libraries have not al- ways been just that. If you go back a couple hundred years, librarians were just regular members of the faculty who had to do some time organizing the collec- tion and helping people find things.” Today’s academic librar- ies focus more on service than objects. “We still have a physi- cal collection, but it’s limited,” Boyd said. “We literally spend more than a million dollars a year on electronic resources. We make certain to have ac- cess to as much current scholarship as we can af- ford. That’s a lot better than back in the day when
Supporting students Loper Success Hub at the Calvin T. Library RICK BROWN , YARD LIGHT MEDIA Aaron Estes, senior director of the Loper Success Hub, wants to help students find success in their academic journey. The new center, located on the second floor of the Calvin T. Ryan Library, will help students by centralizing services for students in one place. The staff will celebrate with an open house, 3-5 p.m. on Thursday featuring free food.
RICK BROWN , YARD LIGHT MEDIA Evan Boyd, Dean of the Calvin T. Library, considers the changes at the facility as a reflect of the evolving role of academic libraries. “Regardless of your background, librarians are here to make sure you can successfully learn,” he said.
it was just what you could fit in your building.” Renovations at the li- brary began in late 2022, encompassing all three floors of the building. The $25 million project will improve the functionality and layout of the library and include new furniture and artwork. Construction
crews have upgraded light- ing, flooring, paint, ceilings, restrooms, HVAC systems and IT infrastructure. The improvements will extend the useful life and improve energy efficiency of the nearly 100,000-square- foot building.
center, we now have our Academic Advising and Ca- reer Development Office, we have a program called TRIO which is a federal support program for students who are either first generation, for students meeting cer- tain income guidelines or the have a documented dis- ability.” The Loper Success Hub also houses the staff involved with the Kearney Bound Scholars, a program that selects high school students during their ninth grade and supports then through college graduation. The program draws first-gen- eration and income eligible students from North Platte High School, Lexington High School, Kearney High School and Kearney Catholic High School. “We have our office for students needing disability
services up here as well,” Estes said. “When a student who might be having a hard time adjusting to college or struggling with classes asked for help, it was diffi- cult to find a place to get it. Different support services were dispersed around cam- pus. Now they won’t have to think too hard or dig too hard to find the place where help is available. They can just say, ‘Second floor of the library, the Loper Success Hub will have someone there to help you.’” Although the services are now located in one place, they remain separate. “Staff members aren’t necessarily doing multiple jobs,” Estes said. “There are still distinct types of support here. A student who comes to try to figure out what area
RICK BROWN rick@yardlightmedia.com
KEARNEY — The Loper Success Hub brings together a variety of support services, in one place, to offer Univer- sity of Nebraska at Kearney students a better chance for getting the most from their college years. Aaron Estes, senior di- rector of the Loper Suc- cess Hub, sat in the newly renovated second floor of the Calvin T. Library. He described the hub as a place for students to make con- nections. “This space, historically, was the location of the tu- toring center,” he said. “In addition to the tutoring
Please see RENOVATIONS, Page 20
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PENNY PINTS THURSDAY NIGHTS 9:00 P.M. THURSDA YNIGHTS
Lunch, dinner and all your entertainment needs! enter
18 East 21 st Street, Kearney (308)-237-1558
Please see STUDENTS, Page 20
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