Library Spaces

May 25, 2023 3 Min Read
Sr. Associate Head of Reader Services for Patron Experience Anna Norris poses with a painting of a dog she made.
Sr. Associate Head of Reader Services for Patron Experience Anna Norris poses with a painting of a dog she made.

The Libraries are bursting with fresh ideas! This ingenuity necessitates the provision of spaces that are as dynamic as the faculty, staff and students that use them. Thanks to astute strategic planning and added support from the State of New York, President Stenger’s office, the Binghamton Fund for Libraries and beyond, the Libraries have a long list of accomplished work and scheduled upgrades to make locating and using library spaces easier and more enjoyable. By applying modern design concepts to each building’s most beloved spaces, the Libraries are able to prioritize accessibility as rooms, thresholds and stacks are renovated.

Bartle Library

Best known for its hulking Brutalist exterior and beautiful brass accents, Bartle’s best kept secret is that the entire building is the main office space for the majority of the institution’s 120 faculty and staff. The Glenn G. Bartle Library within it is also where more than 800,000 books, maps and multimedia resources are shelved. 

People gather and watch a demonstration of sushi being made at a Cherry Blossom Festival event held in Bartle Library.
People gather and watch a demonstration of sushi being made at a Cherry Blossom Festival event held in Bartle Library.
  • 1st floor 
  • 2nd floor mezzanine
    • “Loft” reading room 
  • 3rd floor total renovation
    • Future Digital Scholarship Center
    • Enhanced research and study spaces
    • Mechanical and structural updates

Collection Management Facility (CMF)

The Libraries took on the responsibility of off-site storage nearly twenty-five years ago and changed Collections policies to route lesser-used resources to commercial warehousing for temperature controlled storage. Thanks in part to the Binghamton Foundation, the Libraries are now moving these important collections to a newly renovated, high density storage facility closer to campus. The Collection Management Facility in Johnson City, NY will be the permanent home to approximately 850,000 volumes. Beginning June 2023 the building will be open for service and continue the Libraries’ legacy commitment to the highest quality print resources available. 

Science Library

Student leans against the space saving shelving reading a book.
Student leans against the space saving shelving reading a book.

The Science Library, located as part of the ‘Science II’ building, houses materials associated with the hard sciences as well as some of the humanities collections. This library’s most public facing spaces interiors are being taken from drab to fab which better suits this library’s vibrant “think-tank” atmosphere.

University Downtown Center (UDC)

The UDC supports the general coursework and research aspirations of the College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) providing curated collections in the areas of social work, human development, government, education and others. The rising popularity of research desk help and information commons was bolstered this year through the addition of several reservable study spaces.