by Library News
Over the past several months, the UTA Central Library has undergone a makeover courtesy of the federal government's award of more than $5.5 million from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
The U.S. Department of Education states that HEERF III was established during the COVID-19 pandemic as a part of the American Rescue Plan, signed into law in March 2021. It has provided more than $39.6 billion to support higher education institutions to serve students nationwide.
New furniture is located throughout the UTA Central Library that was purchased with Federal funds.
Kevin Schuck, Director of Organizational Operations, stated that the funds UTA Libraries received went toward purchases that would help with students' basic needs.
Areas where universities could spend funds included academic, financial and mental health. Funds could also be spent on critical enhancements for public spaces and technology.
"Through the course of the project, new furniture was bought for both public spaces and study rooms," Schuck said. "Computers in public spaces that were more than four years old were replaced across the library."
Study carrels that had been used for decades in the library were replaced with new furniture as part of the grant.
Schuck stated that some of the furniture replaced through the federal dollars had been used at the library for several decades, like the large study carrels seen throughout the Central Library.
One of the new study areas for students is located on the third floor of the UTA Central Library.
There were 220 laptops and tablets purchased, study room displays, a 3x3 video wall and sound system for the sixth-floor atrium, two 98-inch monitors installed in the parlor and new lecterns. The grant also covered the cost of electrical and data line upgrades for the new equipment and furniture.
The HEERF funds also covered the purchase and access to 700-750 textbooks through print reserves across each of the libraries' locations, video streaming services, newspaper collections, and texts frequently requested or assigned by UTA courses.
The furniture on the fourth floor before the renovation project started this summer.
Schuck thanked everyone as work has been ongoing in the building with the HEERF fund and the window replacement project.
"As you know, projects like this take everyone's patience because it interrupts everybody," Schuck said. "I appreciate everybody's patience and understanding."
The UTA Central Library received new furniture through a federal grant.
Comments
New Library Furniture
As nice as the new furniture is, it has majorly decreased the amount of study space to students. With the old desks, I was always able to find a seat. With the new desks, there are not enough seats to go around and I’m forced to leave minutes after arriving. Additionally, group study tables have been added to the silent study floor which has encouraged talking between students because there are not enough tables on the 2nd and 3rd floor.
In reply to New Library Furniture by Emily T
Emily, thanks so much for…
Emily, thanks so much for your feedback. We are working and striving to make UTA Libraries an amazing place of study and community for all. Your feedback will help us with this process.
Library space
Not enough seats anymore. People are breaking the wheels on desks and the new outlets on 4th/5th floor, probably will all be broken by the end of the year. This semester is the first time I've noticed people constantly talking on silent floor. Also unfair that grad students and scholarship recipients are the only ones able to reserve cubbies on the silent floors. Everyone needs to study, and there are not enough seats total for exclusive reserved seating to be a thing.
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