Learn More About the Renovation Process:
- When will Tebo Library Open?
- What will go in the café space on the main level?
- Why aren’t you building a new building?
- Where can I find the most up-to-date information about construction timelines?
- Are you getting rid of all the books?
- Will we still have a quiet floor after renovation?
- What will actually change? Are you just putting in new carpet and paint?
When will Tebo Library Open?
After December 19, 2025, the Welcome Desk in Custer Hall 304 will close for the winter break and remain closed while we move into the new building in January. We are planning to have a “soft opening” on January 20th, 2026, which is the first day of the semester. While everything won’t be perfect and the library staff and many partners will still be in the process of moving and settling in, you are welcome to visit us and explore the new spaces! A grand opening and ribbon cutting will take place later in the Spring, tentatively in April.
See the full details of library hours and watch the status update page for more details about the availability of services, spaces, and partners.
What will go in the café space on the main level?
At the university level, a food vendor contract was awarded to the Union Catering Company in Spring of 2024. This contract also applies to the new library café space.
During the campus listening sessions, there was a strong demand for a simple, lower cost coffee offering in the café in the newly renovated library. However, the menu and operating hours are yet to be determined.
Why aren’t you building a new building?
The physical location of the library on campus is ideal and the current building has good bones and provides adequate space, it just needs to have the space redistributed for modern uses and major updates to the aging systems such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. By renovating the existing structure, we’re able to spend less on the overall project.
Where can I find the most up-to-date information about the renovation?
This blog will continue to be updated throughout the process. Please also check the renovation status page on the library website as many of the library partners, spaces, collections, and library staff offices have moved to temporary locations during construction.
Are you getting rid of all the books?
No. One of the most common things we heard from the campus input sessions was that students like to study in the library because they like to be surrounded by books. Prior to the renovation, the library weeded the collection as a part of regular collection maintenance to make sure that the books we have are relevant and in good condition to support the research activities of our university community.
During the construction process, the periodicals in compact shelving and the government documents will be transported to off-site storage. They are coming back once the renovation is done. Please check the renovation status page for the availability of specific collections. During the renovation, you can place a hold through the library catalog to have your book(s) ready for pickup at the Welcome Desk.
Will we still have a quiet floor after renovation?
The upper level of the renovated library will continue to serve as a quiet zone. Depending on how students use the main and lower levels of the renovated library, other sound zones may be established.
What will actually change? Are you just putting in new carpet and paint?
This project is a major remodel. While the exterior of the building will look similar to the existing structure, after the renovation, the interior of the building will barely be recognizable. Nearly every wall except the elevator walls will come down to create new space allocations and improve the flow and function of the space.
There will be an open, amphitheater staircase and an additional cutout from the main level to the lower level to bring natural light into the lower level and create a more open space. The north and south stairwells will have a major transformation, integrating them into the space.