Following nearly 12 months of construction, the first floor of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library has fully reopened for visitors.
Courtesy of Alfi Storrs | The Crow’s Nest
By Aubrey Carr
After just under a year of waiting, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Nelson Poynter Memorial Library (NPML) has officially reopened with a brand-new look for the first floor.
The renovated floorplan includes new study rooms lining the center of the space, a refitted student technology center and a rotating gallery displaying artwork from the community.
The project was estimated to cost $1,250,000, and was originally planned to be completed by September of 2022, but setbacks from Hurricane Ian pushed the reopening back to this year.
To celebrate, the NPML team hosted a grand reopening ceremony. Chancellor Hardigree, St. Petersburg Student Governor Sean Schrader and various members of library’s leadership spoke at the event, detailing the library’s new features and applauding the work that went into developing the space.
“I want to tell you that coming here from Tampa is a real treat,” Todd Chavez, dean of USF Libraries said. “I don’t know how many of you have visited the Tampa library, but it’s a big seven floor concrete box with no windows [and] no views of water outside. So, when I come here, visually it is a beautiful place to be, and this renovation adds to that.”
Schrader, who is ending his last term as campus governor, shared news of a new collaboration between the library and students.
“In partnership with Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, we are so excited to announce the creation and establishment of a student led library Advisory Board,” Schrader said. “We’ve heard specifically from students about changes they like seeing, as well as feedback about what they want to see for the future of this library, for example, how testing hours are set up during midterm and final exams, how the printing services are set up and marketed and distributed and things like that.”
Kristina Keogh, library campus dean, confirmed that this is not the end of the NPML’s renovations. In the coming months, the first floor will be fitted with new decorations and furniture to match the updated atmosphere.
