JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- With a pair of over-sized novelty scissors in hand, the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson commander and the JBER library director cut the ribbon at the new quiet study room at the JBER Library Feb, 9, 2017.
“It was one thing the library was really lacking,” said Pamela Medolo, JBER Library director. “A place where people can [close the door and] study quietly.”
Construction for the project began late December of 2016, Medolo said. What was a shared wall between then classroom 108 and the library in the Community Education Complex became the entrance to the quiet study room.
Though the library just hosted a ribbon cutting, the room has been in use by library guests since furniture was installed in mid-January, Medolo said. The build has been well-received, with one patron visiting near daily.
In two weeks, electricians and other contracting professionals routed wires, painted wall and created the entry way to the library. With a variety of desks, tables, chairs, and padded armchairs, 13 patrons can take advantage of the quiet study room at any time.
“In the last fiscal year libraries across the Department of Defense have a seen a bit of a decline, however, that’s not the case here at JBER,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Joshua Hawkins, 673d Force Support Squadron commander. “We have 111,000 customers who came through last year and 11,000 served in events hosted by library staff.”
The library staff hopes the quiet study room will be used by patrons young and old, military and civilian.
“We offer a wide variety of programs at the library,” Medolo said. “Until now we weren’t able to give people a place where they can be guaranteed they can study. ... Whether they have a busy family life at home or they live in the dorms and there’s music playing and they [can’t get away from the noise] – this is their opportunity, so long as the library is open, to have a quiet place to study.”