When I arrived at Texas State University four years ago, plans had just started to enhance our libraries. Among them were ideas to convert the Albert B. Alkek Library to a Learning Commons model, to construct an Archives and Research Center (ARC) and to undertake several building maintenance issues needed in the Alkek facility.
Fast forward to 2020, the Archives and Research Center at McCarty Lane has been open for about 1 ½ years and is now home to over 390,000 items. This facility plays a key role in our library “ecosystem” as it enabled us to free up space in the Alkek Library for the remodel and upgrades. Now, the infrastructure and maintenance projects are wrapped up, and the third and fourth floor remodels are essentially complete with a new layout, carpet, and other furnishings to modernize the space. The major renovation of the first floor of the Alkek Library is close to finishing and will become one of the most technologically equipped spaces on the San Marcos campus open to all students. Additionally, with the IT Assistance Center (ITAC) service desk being relocated to the first floor, IT support will be far more convenient for students, faculty, and staff. Unfortunately, we’re still a few months away from being able to open the new cafe (Starbucks) on the second floor, but we do expect it to open by the end of the spring semester. And lastly, I believe the new first floor entrance to the Alkek Library is going to be very popular!
We’ve also completed an expansion of the Round Rock Campus Library adding much needed quiet, study space for our students there.
To encapsulate these changes, we now refer to our library ecosystem as the University Libraries (UL), no longer just Alkek Library. University Libraries consists of the Albert B. Alkek Library (San Marcos campus), the Round Rock Campus Library, the Archives and Research Center, University Archives, and The Wittliff Collections.
I am excited and looking forward to when all the projects are complete and how wonderful they will be for our campus community. I can’t wait for you to experience these upgraded spaces once construction is complete early this year!
Ken Pierce is Vice President for Information Technology and CIO.
