During the summer, the Libraries undertook renovations in Scott Library to increase shelving capacity and increase and improve student study space. Part of the third floor collection was removed while the shelving was being replaced, but various contingency measures put into place by the Libraries ensured that few were inconvenienced and the collection was back in place by Labour Day. To date, only a few features remain to be installed to complete the renovations.

The new spaces are already being heavily used. Where formerly there were only a few outlets to plug in a laptop and no wired connections, now there is power and an Ethernet connection at every seat in both the first floor reading room (about 160 spaces) and on the third floor (about 220 spaces). 
 
First floor

The changes made in the main “Central Square” reading room substantially reflect the recommendations of student focus groups.

A wood and glass “portal” reduces the noise between the foyer and the reading room, and an electronic sound suppression system is being installed to reduce ambient noise. The old carrels that dominated the reading room were replaced with chairs and tables equipped with reading lamps, electrical and Ethernet connections, plus some new (wired) carrels, and the area has a large visual art installation created by students in the Faculty of Fine Arts.

The public-use computers that were scattered about the first floor foyer area were brought together (with computers added) into a newly created room that is much quieter than the foyer. The Circulation and Welcome Services (formerly Exit Control) service counters have been reconfigured to make them more friendly and approachable.

In both the first and third floor spaces, the walls have been repainted, lighting has been upgraded to energy saving and “daylight” quality, and new carpet tiles have been installed.

Third Floor

On the third floor, the Libraries were able to improve and add study spaces and greatly increase the shelving to hold our growing book collection.  This work was made possible with the generous assistance of the family of W.P. Scott, after whom Scott Library is named, and in honour of whom a part of the third floor has been dedicated. 

About 10,000 linear feet of static shelving was replaced, in a smaller footprint, with 20,000 linear feet of mobile shelving.

The very old non-wired tables and carrels were removed in favour of about 220 upgraded and additional study spaces at comfortable new tables and carrels with reading lamps and electrical and Ethernet connections.

Even as the new tables were being installed this fall, students were sitting in every available seat reading and working at their laptops, many commenting on the immense improvement (see sidebar, right).