• President’s Library and Learning Commons Task Force
• Project Goals and Main Features of New Learning Commons
• Project Timeline

President’s Library and Learning Commons Task Force

In September 2016, President Mercer established the President’s Library/Learning Commons Task Force. The Task Force was charged to routinely engage with their respective stakeholder groups, design professionals, and others to inform and shape the form, function, and aesthetic of presented plans and designs.

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Faculty Assembly Library Renovation Task Force (FA LRTF)

In December 2015, the Faculty Assembly Library Renovation Task Force (FALRTF) was formed and charged to (1) prepare a white paper with detailed quantitative and qualitative data on the current condition of the Library, (2) draw comparisons with libraries at competitor institutions, and (3) present its recommendations to the Faculty Assembly for approval and, upon approval by the FA, for presentation to the President’s Cabinet.

From the final report:

FA LRTF, at Ramapo College of New Jersey, is a faculty and student-led body created by the Faculty Assembly Executive Council and confirmed by a vote by Faculty Assembly.

Composition of LRTF: The task force’s working group was composed of representatives selected by faculty within each School (including the Library). Each school/unit elected a member and an alternate. Each school/unit had one vote delegated to the member, or in their absence, the alternate. Two student members were recruited from SGA. Administrators were consulted as needed.

Read the Full Report >

Project Goals and Main Features of New Learning Commons

The Learning Commons renovation project goes beyond necessary building upgrades to create a center for interdisciplinary study, collaboration, and creation.  With many new features and offices working together, the building will become a gathering place for students, faculty, and staff.

Here are some of the project goals and major features:

Goals

• Create an inviting space where students, faculty and staff want to spend time.
• Incorporate views of the beautiful campus and surrounding countryside into the building.
• Design a building that will be more intuitive to navigate.
• Double the amount of seating and increase its variety to include traditional and newer types of seating and study spaces, including group study rooms.

Features

• Library services and resources will remain in the building, with a new Information Literacy classroom, compact shelving for collections, and a new Circulation Desk and Research Help Desk.
• A newly unified Special Collections area will consist of the Gross Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies, Ramapo College Archives, Jane Addams Papers Project, and the American History Textbook Project.
• The Center for Reading and Writing will remain in the Learning Commons.
• ITS will have a significant presence.
• Technology will be ubiquitous, including power outlets, wireless printing, printer/scanner rooms, and computers located throughout the building.
• Additional proposed new building components will include a cafe in the entrance and the Mindfulness at Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Project Timeline

Project Progress:

• [Apr.-May 2018] – Design Development plans and associated cost estimates completed.
• [Apr.-Oct. 2018] – Learning Commons Construction Documents created and prepared for bidding.
• [June 2018] – Portion of the library’s print collection moved to off-site storage.
• [June-Nov. 2018] – Demolition and renovation of Swing Space in Linden Hall.
• [June-Dec. 2018] – Potter Library remains in operation in original building.
• [Jan. 2019] – Temporary library opens in Linden Hall.
• [Jan.-Mar. 2019] – Demolition of existing library building takes place.
• [Apr.-June 2019] – Pre-construction phase — permitting, bidding, and purchasing.
• [July 2019-May 2021] – Construction of Learning Commons takes place.
• [June-Aug. 2021] – Move into new building and set up to open for Fall 2021.

Project Background:

• [Jan. 2016] – Board of Trustees approved submission to state for bond funds.
• [Apr. 2016] – Faculty Assembly Library Renovation Task Force (FALRTF) issued final report.
• [June 2016] – Received $15 million Grant from Higher Education Capital Improvement Fund (HECIF).
• [Nov. 2016] – Board of Trustees (BOT) approves Tentative Renovation and Addition Budget. BOT approves engagement of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) as architects of the project. BOT approves Cambridge Construction Management as construction manager for pre-construction phase.
• [Feb. 2017] – Student Pizza Party Q&A.
• [Dec. 2017] – BOT approves plan to take Linden Hall offline as residence hall for use as Swing Space/Transition Library.
• [Jan. 2018] – Schematic Design Cost Estimate takes place.