Update: Can’t make it to the sessions below? Give us your thoughts through this survey. Note that the survey is cookie-based: be sure to fully submit, especially if you’re on a public computer. All questions are optional. Survey will be available through March 1.
HBRA Architects, who have been contracted for the Alderman Renovation project, will be holding open sessions in February to hear from students, faculty, staff, and the Charlottesville community.
Each 90-minute session (scheduled for the afternoons of February 7, 8, 21, and 22, for a total of 8 sessions) will be an opportunity for Library patrons to guide HBRA and the Planning Committees toward the best possible future for Alderman Library—one that meets research needs, provides world-class collections access, and houses useful spaces for all types of Library visitors. Public input will be essential as HBRA seeks to articulate programming for the newly renovated space.
In these meetings, which are designated for, but never restricted to, faculty or students, the topics to be discussed include–
The Library as Physical Space:
- What are your highest priorities of use for the library?
- What components or spaces do you most require or wish to see in a renewed Alderman?
- What aspects of Alderman, either program-related or experiential, would you wish to retain or otherwise incorporate into the renovated library?
- What types of interactive spaces do you use or want to see in the new Library? Examples include open study lounges or labs, group learning spaces, consultation spaces, etc. Are there examples on grounds (or off) that embody these?
- What does Alderman currently lack that you’d hope to find in a renovated library?
The Library as a Research Environment:
- What elements of a reconceived Alderman Library would be most valuable or important to you in your research pursuits? What are your highest priorities of use for the library?
- What technical resources or support are most critical for your research activities when working at Alderman?
- What types of contemplative spaces would be most important in a new library? What would
- their physical characteristics include? Are there examples on grounds (or off) that embody these?
- What does Alderman currently lack that you’d hope to find in a renovated library?
- What are favored spaces or environments for engaging with library staff or information as part of your research efforts?
The Library will also make these questions available as an online survey, for any interested person who cannot attend one of the in-person sessions. And as always, those with questions or concerns can email unsworth@virginia.edu.
Discussion sessions will vary slightly: sessions earlier in the month (February 7-8) will be framed around informing an initial concept for the future of Alderman Library, whereas the later sessions (February 21-22) will focus on revisiting previous planning and welcoming new ideas to flesh out and adapt the renovation plan as it comes into focus. Library users are encouraged to attend as many sessions as they wish.
Scheduled sessions are listed below (click times to view location details and other information).
Wednesday, 2/7/2018
Thursday, 2/8/2018
Wednesday, 2/21/2018
Thursday, 2/22/2018
Interested staff and members of the community are welcome to attend any session.
Renovation construction is estimated to begin in or around 2020. Find more information at http://aldermanrenewal.library.virginia.edu/.