Pima Community College has unveiled a $1 million renovation of its downtown library - a colorful study space and hangout place.
The funding came from a federal Title V grant, money that is intended to boost the quality of colleges with a high percentage of Hispanic students. About 30 percent of students are Hispanic at Pima's downtown campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave.
PCC wanted to make the study areas more like a bookstore or a coffee shop - places that already attract students, said Kimlisa Duchicela, who teaches history at the college. The new space has diner booths and a tall diner-style counter, lots of desks on wheels and comfortable chairs.
The goals were comfort, space, flexibility and high technology, Title V program manager Kurt Andersen told a tour group Friday.
To make room, PCC reduced the library stacks 30 percent. But it removed only the books that were low in demand, available online and available at another PCC campus, Andersen said, so the remaining offerings are more relevant.
People are also reading…
Traffic into the library is up 10 percent, said librarian Erica DeFrain.
"This has been phenomenal," she said.
Librarians are equipped with iPads that control smart boards in the new workshop space for training students on research techniques.
Before, students in those workshops worked on their own at tight rows of computers. Now, students work in small groups, and they write on the walls, which are coated in special paint.
Soon, students will be able to check out a netbook computer to use the Wi-Fi.
Political science student Alexis Bruce has noticed a big difference.
Before, "it was really hard for me to get into the computer commons," said Bruce, who added that she felt crowded and noticed how gray everything looked.
"I like the new version better because I can wander around, look at books and hang out," she said.
The project architect was Burns Wald-Hopkins Shambach. The contractor was Canyon Building and Design.
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@azstarnet.com or 807-8012.
