Twitter photo heralds grand reopening
By Atiba Nelson, Staff Reporter
Similar to borrowed books, students are wondering when they can return to Douglas College’s New Westminster campus library.
Closed since July 2019, the New Westminster campus library (n2100) has been undergoing a four million dollar renovation to make the space “brighter and integrat[ive] with today’s latest technology,” said Dr. Kathy Denton, Douglas College president and CEO, in a press release announcing the renovation.
The large brown construction paper covering the library windows overlooking the college’s East entrance were taken down last week, and a photo, posted to the Douglas College Library Twitter account, showed a preview of the new space.
Visually, there are bright white walls and white columns throughout the new space, with a brown wood finished ceiling, and grey industrial carpet. Additionally, lime green paint wall accents are among the upgrades made to the large space.
The Douglas College Library Renovation News webpage promised a welcoming and flexible entrance and event space. Currently, the main entrance is cordoned off with orange traffic pylons, however, the clear glass doors allow a peek into the remodeled space. The new entrance seems to have delivered on the library’s pre-renovation promise by featuring a large space that could accommodate a small event, in front of a glossy-white (with accented green) circulation desk.
Another promise that the new library fulfils is the creation of more natural light throughout the floor, as the lit library glows during dusk and nighttime hours due to bright LED and interior lights.
Currently, the new study desks and new shelving units that will furnish the library are coupled together and wrapped in plastic on the northside of the first floor, and various areas on the remodeled second floor.
Douglas College, through a sign prominently displayed at the library construction zone entrance, reports that the renovated library is slated to open in December 2019. Although an exact date has not been given, the College believes that students will be able to access the new space before the new year.
Movement of the library and its related services in their current form—which is mainly in the concourse fishbowl (n2005) at Douglas College’s New Westminster campus, computer labs throughout campus, and the Learning Centre in s2662—will begin when construction and cleaning of the new library space ends.
After the December 2019 opening of the renovated library space, the concourse fishbowl will serve as the temporary home of the Office of the Registrar.
Pull: The Douglas College Library
