BENTONVILLE -- Northwest Arkansas Community College's library likely will have a much different look and feel by the time the fall semester starts.
"We want to create a space where students want to be," said Ricky Tompkins, the college's vice president of learning.
The library will put a new emphasis on collaborative spaces so students will find it more convenient to work and study together. Old furniture that was intended to be stationary will be replaced with more modern furniture that can be easily moved around, officials said.
The changes are in line with a trend in academic libraries, said Gwen Dobbs, the college library's director.
"The way students are using the space is profoundly different. There's a huge growth in collaborative spaces," Dobbs said.
The library, which is in Burns Hall, also is getting new carpeting this summer. The carpet has not been changed since Burns Hall opened in 1995, Tompkins said.
Some minor structural changes will be made, and some books will be moved to storage areas to accommodate the new collaborative spaces.
"This will allow us to really transform what the library is today into what is called an information commons," said Tompkins, adding that the library will have "a look of innovation and fun."
During a regular monthly meeting Monday, the board of trustees approved spending $238,000 on the project.
State Desk on 06/15/2016