Cougar Commons Update: Demolition, Carpeting Complete; Painting, Patching Next

The Cougar Commons academic support center in Terrell Library has undergone major work over the last several weeks. As of Jan. 8, the designated construction company completed demolition of the old reference collection stacks area on the first floor. Workers finished laying out carpet on Jan. 14 and have moved on to painting and patching this week.

Terrell Library’s former reference collection stacks stand empty after 9,800 books were moved before demolition for the new Cougar Commons space. Photo by Alex Merrill.

Access Services’ employees and volunteers moved almost 9,800 volumes from the physical reference collection to another location the week of Dec. 8 to prepare for the demolition. Furniture will also be ordered in the coming weeks.

As with most construction projects, speedbumps are inevitable, according to Alex Merrill, the libraries’ associate dean for technology and operations. In this case, the power and networking arrangement serving the six kiosks directly in front of the Ask Us! desk must be brought up to code to allow for electrical and ethernet receptacles to be flush to the floor.

Unfortunately, the manner in which power and internet were laid out in 1994, when Terrell Library was constructed, is no longer to code with flush-mounted floor receptacles, Merrill said. The construction company is now pricing alternatives for new layout options.

Construction workers removed bookshelves from the reference collection area during demolition. Photo by Alex Merrill.

Public-access computers are still available on the first floor near the Ask Us! desk for printing and general use, he added. The libraries are finalizing the initial layout and technology offerings in the new space.

Cougar Commons will be available to all WSU students, made possible by $600,000 in minor capital funds to create the center and upgrade spaces in Terrell.

The libraries continued their partnership with the WSU Undergraduate Writing Center and launched a new collaboration with the Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC) to offer services and host events in Cougar Commons. These include:

  • Drop-in research help by WSU Libraries Ask Us from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays.
  • By-appointment ASCC tutoring from 5-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays (starting last week of January).
  • Drop-in writing consultations by the Undergraduate Writing Center from 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays (starting last week of January).
New carpeting brightens the Cougar Commons area following demolition. Photo by Erica England.

Cougar Commons and ASCC will sponsor several upcoming events for WSU students with the start of the spring semester:

  • A headshot session with the photographers of WSU Photo Services from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.
  • The second Résumé Café from 1-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9. This event helps students workshop their résumés with industry representatives before the spring WSU Career Expo.
  • Therapy dogs will visit the Cougar Commons Wednesday, April 15, part of National Student Employment Week, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

For questions about booking a space for an event and for more information about the Cougar Commons, please email Erica England, WSU Libraries’ first-year experience librarian and the Cougar Commons coordinator.