Intent on turning the library into a more welcoming place, librarian Casey Brough has added four plush chairs and a couple of comfortable couches to the cozy space.
The new furniture greatly benefits the area and attracts countless people to the welcoming space – students and faculty alike. It improves the library and makes the space a more comfortable place in which to read, do homework or just spend a little time.
“I think the furniture has given the library a sort of atmosphere,” said Mr. Brough, “It’s been a hit – I see kids on it all the time. It means that they are using the library. They may not be checking out books or doing library-centric things yet, but that’s the first step.”
The library’s new look is not limited to people currently at OVS – it’s a great aspect of the school to show prospective students.
“It’s a great selling tool!” Mr. Brough said.
Part of the improvement was the class of 2014’s senior gift to the school. The class donated the two coffee tables, handmade by Lower Campus math teacher Doug Colborn, as their way of saying thank you to the school – a final goodbye.
“We saw that [Mr. Brough] was trying tomake the library a cooler place to hang out and study by adding couches,” said OVS alumni Keaton Shiffman, who graduated in 2014. “We had no cool lounge space so we thought the tables would give it more of a lounge feel.”
Although last year’s seniors originally wanted a more elaborate project, the class of 2014 decided to raise money through the senior snack shop to honor his wishes after hearing the plan.
To Mr. Brough, making the library an inviting, communal area was high priority so that as many people as possible will spend time there, even if they aren’t checking out books.