For students on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus, the presence of the new Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons is nothing new, but on April 17, GVSU will give both undergraduates who have looked at the towering, $65 million structure with anticipation and graduating seniors lamenting the summer completion date, a chance to get a sneak peek into GVSU’s new futuristic library that spares no academic luxury.

“President Haas wanted to be sure students had a chance to see the new library before they leave campus this spring and made arrangements have for students to get a special sneak peek,” said Bob Stoll, associate dean of Student Life, who helped the President’s Office to coordinate the event.

The sneak peek will be in the spirit of last year’s beam signing event, an effort to bring together the campus community for an afternoon of music, great door prizes, and “Laker for a Lifetime memories,” Stoll said.

The construction project – one of the largest endeavors in the university’s history – will triple the capacity of the current Zumberge Library, which was constructed in the 1960s for 5,000 students. The new library will provide space for 150,000 books on open shelves and 600,000 library items in an automated retrieval system, complete with a Knowledge Market armed with experts in research, technology, writing and presentation development.

“I’m so excited about the opportunity for our students to have a peek at their new library before the end of the semester,” said Teri Losey, special assistant to the president, and co-chair of the Library Dedication Steering Committee. “And it was great to work with Student Life staff and students from one of our management classes on planning this activity.”

The event will last from 4-6 p.m., and is open to all GVSU students.

“For the last two years the university community has watched the new library rise out of the ground and become an iconic building on the campus landscape,” Stoll said. “The excitement is building and students are anxious to take a peek at what this new special place will be.”

For more information, contact GV News and Information Services at 616-331-2221.

[email protected]