Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Officially Unveils New Oviatt Library Learning Commons

  • The ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Learning Commons

    The Learning Commons and Learning Resource Center in the Oviatt Library officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 3. From left: Elizabeth Adams, associate vice president for undergraduate studies; Hilary Baker, vice president for information technology and chief information officer; Rick Evans, executive director for The University Corporation; President Harrison; Mark Stover, dean of the Delmar T. Oviatt Library; Harry Hellenbrand, provost and vice president for academic affairs; William Watkins, vice president of student affairs and dean of students; and Colin Donahue, vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer. Photo by Lee Choo.

  • A computer bank in the new Learning Commons

    The new Learning Commons has a state-of-the art technology center outfitted with flexible work areas, computer stations and a plethora of charging stations. Photo by Kristine Keller.

  • The new Freudian Sip cafe in the new Learning Commons

    The Freudian Sip is CSUN's campus cafe, and it opened its fourth location in the new Learning Commons. Mark Stover, dean of the Oviatt Library, previously said about the station: “The Freudian Sip coffee house is providing coffee and snacks, comfortable seating, and an atmosphere of intellectual stimulation for students." Photo by Kristine Keller.

  • The new Learning Commons' reading area

    The flexible work stations in the new Learning Commons create the ability for study groups of any size to get together in the space. Photo by Kristine Keller.

California State University, Northridge officially opened the doors to a new era at the Delmar T. Oviatt Library when President Dianne F. Harrison and other campus leaders officially unveiled the Learning Commons with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 3 

The new Learning Common was designed to cater to the new generation of students looking to study in a technologically advanced area. It has been outfitted with flexible workstations, enhanced study spaces featuring ergonomic furniture and an abundance of charging outlets for all the technology being used. There are also librarians offering research consultation, an Information Technology help desk, laptop and tablet checkout and a full-service Freudian Sip coffeehouse to help students meet their educational goals.

President Harrison — who addressed the nearly 300 students, faculty, staff and community members in attendance — noted that the changes in the library help prepare the university for the future. She called the newly remodeled library “modern, exciting, and transformative,” and added that the new area’s IT infrastructure will support research well into the next decade and beyond.

Along with the new Learning Commons, the library also remodeled its third floor to house a new space for the Learning Resource Center. The center provides students tutoring, test preparation support and writing assistance. After the ribbon cutting, attendees were invited to explore the LRC and the others of the newly remodeled library. The library has been serving the California State University, Northridge community since its opening in 1973.

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