Seniors Milly Lim and Colby Wang relax in the library with its newly constructed study room. “The study room is a good place for students to get their work done and be isolated from other people to focus better,” Wang said.
By Ethan Lay
Staff Writer
Study Room Installation
Students who frequent the library noticed a new study room in the back on March 13, providing a dedicated space for students to work independently and collaborate with peers. Set to open to students next school year, the room is part of broader efforts to modernize the school.
“I want our library to be more up-to-date,” Principal Elena Li said. “There are chairs, a table and a whiteboard so that if students want to study for an exam or work on a project with a small group, they could reserve a study session.”
The study room is mobile, meaning it can be taken down and moved if needed. It is built with clear panels and an open ceiling, allowing staff to supervise students while they study and ensure appropriate use in accordance with school conduct policies. The room can fit up to five people but is only reserved for staff until further notice.
“We’re testing one pod or one room before we go full-fledged and spend all this money on it,” Li said. “Once it’s successful, then I’ll get one the next year and one the following year. Eventually, we might have a set of three or four across the back there.”
The room costs $6,000 to build, excluding the cost for the tables and chairs, which comes from money set aside for classrooms. To fund the project, the school allocated resources from the general facilities budget, which is used for overall campus improvements.
“I think that adding rooms to the library will give students a quieter and more comfortable environment to focus on homework and study for a test, or study with their friends,” senior Kingston Santamaria said. “It will make the library more organized, and I’m excited to see the renovations.”
Additional Changes to the Library
With renovations already underway, many students hope the additional rooms will improve their study experience, and make the library a more welcoming space for academia. Future plans include a physical or digital reservation system for students to book rooms in advance.
Furthermore, the library eliminated the two checkout detectors located at the entrance. Responding to concerns that the detectors obstruct students and staff as they enter and exit the library, the removal aims to improve mobility and facilitate the construction of the study rooms.
The library is storing books that have not been checked out in over five years in the back room. As the library stops circulating these books in the new layout, they hope to repurpose them through donations to charity organizations.
Administrators planned for the renovations two years in advance due to concerns about the library’s outdated condition. Li proposed refurbishing the library after finding that many books had not been checked out for over a decade.
“I’m always trying to improve our facilities and always keep students in mind,” Li said. “The renovation is student-driven and I’m trying to make our campus good for you guys and to have all the things that you need.”