LU unveils million dollar library renovations

After four years of sitting at tables littered with graffiti and gum stuck to the bottoms, Colleen Hogan said it was time for a change in the Chancellor Paterson Library.

The fourth-year concurrent education student was on-hand for the official opening of Lakehead University’s new Learning Commons area in the campus library.

“I actually do come here more often now,” Hogan said. “It’s just a more enjoyable space…It’s pretty fancy.”

The $1.2 million in renovations were completed in time for the students to arrive in September but the university made it official Thursday morning, the same day the first wireless Internet access was available on campus.

The new facility includes a new computer lab complete with videoconferencing capabilities, group study areas, a new research help/IT desk, enhanced seating choices, improved technology and new flooring and paint. There is also 32 ground floor individual study spaces and a 900-square foot student group study area with power and Internet connections.

Third-year English student Elisabeth Boileau said she spends quite a bit of time in the library working on projects and is there even more during exams.

“I think it’s really nice,” she said. “It’s great because you can work alone or in small little groups and I really like the quiet rooms.”

The renovations have helped improve the atmosphere, said second-year biology student Paul Moshfeghi.

“It’s brighter,” he said, adding the new study rooms also create a pleasant environment for study groups.


He added the extra computers and new wireless access are also exciting.

“That would be an excuse for me to buy a new laptop,” he said. “That’s very good news.”
LU president Brian Stevenson said the two things he heard the students wanted were wireless access and areas to work in groups.

“A lot of our courses are designed to be able to bring teams together to learn together,” he said. “If you walk around, you’ll see we have a lot of really good spaces that will be able to let students work as a group.”

The funding for the renovations came from provincial funding the university received through the Strategic Capital Infrastructure Program under the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.