During summer quarter 2021, a task force charged with improving the public spaces at Orbach Library began gathering feedback from the UCR community.

At present, the task force is preparing its final report to share their findings and suggested upgrades and changes for the Raymond L. Orbach Science Library.

“Some improvements have already begun,” said University Librarian Steven Mandeville-Gamble. “We ordered power bar tables and barstools to place in the window alcoves, which will provide several additional café-style study spaces on each floor at Orbach.”

There are also plans to upgrade technology throughout Orbach Library. “This past summer, the campus IT department dramatically improved the WiFi network,” said Associate University Librarian Kevin Comerford. “The main computer classroom in Orbach is also getting a complete overhaul. New, lightweight laptops will be available for student use, replacing the old hardwired desktop PCs.”

Funds from the Student Technology Fee will help to finance the creation of a new Data / GIS / Digital Scholarship Learning Lab, which Comerford expects to open sometime in 2022. “It will feature a high-end display system and powerful desktop computers that will allow students to work on GIS, data visualization, and creative graphic projects,” he explained.

Library leadership also plans to launch a similar task force focused on improvements at the Tomás Rivera Library later in the 2021-2022 academic year.