Room dedication solidifies Lilley Library’s Room 12 as a place for collaborative learning on campus

by David Alan Skarupski
Submitted by: Stephanie Diaz

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the John M. Lilley Library staff, in conjunction with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Penn State Behrend officially dedicated Room 12, located in the basement of the library. The newly renovated room will be made available for use for classes at the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester.

At the room dedication, the final results of renovation efforts that began this past summer were publicly unveiled to both the Behrend faculty and the student population. The newly renovated
room features a smart board, five white marker boards, two flat screen televisions and a number of movable chairs and tables. In the near future, the room will also feature video conference technology.

With the technological and spatial enhancements, Room 12 provides an area for collaborative learning and interactive teaching that is progressive and innovative. The technological upgrades allow for H&SS students to process and store information provided during lectures more efficiently than ever before. The spatial enhancements allow for malleable classroom layouts that can be easily transformed on any given day, based on the nature of the daily lesson plan.

While the room will be used for H&SS classes, and language classes in-particular, the space is currently available for student use during library hours, and will also be available when classes are not being held in future semesters. While the room was dedicated by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, students in every major are welcomed and encouraged to utilize the room to the best of their abilities.

The renovation, which also included significant collaborative efforts with Behrend’s Information Technology Services, adds to variety of spaces in the library that are continuously expanding
and evolving. With the expansion of amenities being offered by the library, the opportunity for students from all schools on Behrend’s campus to maximize their potential through spaces and
services offered by the library continue to grow.