New and improved Academic Library supports the needs of 21st-Century students
October 10, 2024Yuma, AZ (October 10, 2024) – On Wednesday, October 9, Arizona Western College celebrated the Grand Opening of the AWC/NAU-Yuma Academic Library.
After undergoing various renovations over the past several years, the new-and-improved library provides students with access to multimedia and multidisciplinary learning spaces that support the demands of modern technology.
“I am honored to be a part of a campus community that values learning and supporting collaboration and connection,” commented Angie Creel, Director of Library Services at AWC. “The library’s full renovation is a dream realized after many, many years.”
Constructed in 1965, the Academic Library underwent extensive remodeling in 1991 but had not been expanded or partially renovated until 2021 with the addition of the Digital Humanities Center. This 2,029-square-foot expansion project took one year to complete and features a computer lab equipped with software to create and edit software, a non-traditional classroom, indoor and outdoor study areas with updated furniture, and a One Button Studio to record presentations.
Following the expansion, there was a stark contrast between the modern addition and the now-outdated 1991 renovation. Thus, a new project was born to unite the opposed spaces.
Over the summer, roughly 15,000 square feet of the original library building were renovated to match the Digital Humanities Center. Enhancements included new carpet, paint, and refinished stairs, doors, and wood trim. Additionally, refurbished bathrooms, formerly accessible from outside the building, are available on the east side of the library.
“Our administration has been tirelessly supportive of our efforts to bring an updated and refreshed library space to Arizona Western College and NAU-Yuma,” Creel said. “Without the help of my staff, my supervisor, President’s Cabinet, and the President, none of this would have been possible.”
As the only academic library in Southwest Arizona, the library serves thousands of people each year, including students from Northern Arizona University - Yuma, University of Arizona, and Arizona State University.
After closing for the summer, the library re-opened to students at the start of the fall semester. The Grand Opening was celebrated on October 9th with a tour of the completed facility.
Contact:
Mandy Heil
Dean of Marketing and Communications
Arizona Western College
Mandy.Heil@azwestern.edu
(928) 314-9594