Libraries announce long-term master plan campus town halls
Undergraduates work on a group project at College Library in Helen C. White Hall. Photo: Jeff Miller
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries are prepared to embark on the next phase of the campus libraries facilities master plan process. Once again, they’ll look to the campus community for input in shaping what the future of libraries on campus could look like.
During the week of April 24, the Libraries, in coordination with UW–Madison Facilities Planning & Management, UW System, Wisconsin Division of Facilities Development, brightspot strategy, and Engberg Anderson Architects will hold two town halls for the campus, at 5 p.m. April 25 at Memorial Library, room 126, and at noon April 26 at Steenbock Library.
The purpose of the town halls is to bring the campus community together to:
- Gather input on the draft report on library user feedback (from previous onsite visits and the faculty survey conducted).
- Review the draft scenarios for future campus library locations.
- Discuss the next steps in the master planning process.
“Involving our users across campus in this ongoing process is one of the most important things we can do,” says Carrie Kruse, director of College Library and master plan project manager for the Libraries. “Our partners have been working for months to gather information to bring us to a point where they have an early draft to share. It’s critical to have faculty, staff and students see the progress of the plan and provide input before the semester is over.”
Recognizing this is a busy time of year and not everyone will be able to attend the town halls, materials from the sessions and a chance for feedback will be made available online. The town halls are open to the public.
The Libraries master plan process is intended to provide direction for campus library buildings through the next 20 to 25 years. Since November 2016, the team of consulting groups has worked with Libraries to develop the plan. Throughout the process, several workshops and outreach efforts have taken place across campus. The Libraries recognize the community’s input is imperative to designing the most successful plan for the future.
The last visit by the consulting team will take place in May, when the final report and recommendations will be presented.
Any questions about the plan may be directed to Carrie Kruse.
