As part of its strategic vision, Albright College is committed to developing and strengthening community partnerships, and is excited to contribute to a vibrant vision for the future of Reading and Berks County with a new library/multi-use facility that will foster community partnerships through expanded educational and cultural opportunities.

An Albright team led by President Jacquelyn Fetrow, Ph.D., has been working through the fall and now into the spring to re-imagine a 21st century library, one that immerses learning in collaboration, mixes traditional media with emergent media, and includes the wider community in educational and cultural initiatives.

PLANS FOR THIS MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPACE INCLUDE:

• A learning commons on the entry floor that includes both library services and student success initiatives such as tutoring, academic learning center, academic coaches, accessibility services, and career development

• A history and cultural center on the second floor that will house our history department and welcome campus and community members to explore the Albright Archives, Nolan local history collection, Lakin Holocaust Resource Center and pieces from the Central Pennsylvania African American Museum

• Study and meeting spaces designed with multiple, flexible configurations, and with built-in technology and tools for digital scholarship, alongside the writing center and writing faculty

• Universal design elements to ensure a fully accessible space for campus and community members of all abilities.

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A Vision for a New Learning Commons and Cultural Center

Artifacts from the college’s Nolan collection, Holocaust Resource Center and Central Pennsylvania African American Museum collection. Albright College is committed to

developing and strengthening community partnerships and is excited to contribute to a vibrant vision for the future of Reading and Berks County.

Library Initiative

A 21st century college education demands a 21st century library that immerses learning in collaboration, mixes traditional materials with new media, and supplements student initiative with expert support.

The current Library has served students, faculty, and community members since 1964. Since then, the College’s undergraduate population has nearly doubled, resources have changed radically with the rise of audiovisual materials and new media, and studying and learning have evolved to keep pace with technological enhancements and pedagogical modifications.

A new Library will give Albright an inviting and comfortable learning environment designed to bring together students, faculty, skilled professionals, information resources, high-end technology resources and student support services.

Renovations to the Library will be conducted in phases with fundraising attached to each phase:

Phase 1 of the project will include the redesign of the building façade and ensure the building is fully accessible to all community members.

Phase 2 will include renovation of the plaza-level, creating an academic learning commons appropriate for the 21st century. This new commons will integrate resources designed to support the academic success of students at Albright and beyond. It will include our Academic Learning Center’s tutoring services as well as collaborative study spaces, the Writing Center and the Student Accessibility and Advocacy office.

Phases 3 and beyond will focus on the renovation of the upper floors of the Library.

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Conceptual Rendering of Gingrich Library Exterior, January 2019.

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