Media Contact
Roy Cummings
Director of Communications
University Library
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ATLANTA — The Georgia State University Library will be cutting the ribbon next week on its brand-new student-focused study area and celebrating the grand opening of its student-run coffee shop.
Dubbed the Study Commons, the new indoor space in Library North accommodates up 250 people for individual and group study sessions, increasing the number of seats in the library by nearly 10 percent.
The space was created by making use of increasingly valuable downtown real estate already within the University Library’s footprint. Following Board of Regents approval, work began in December 2022 to convert the street-level C Lot parking area underneath Library North into a 19,000-square-foot indoor space.
The Study Commons, accessible to students, faculty and staff, features wireless connectivity and movable furniture that can be adapted to accommodate the needs of students studying alone or in large groups. Its eight small and three large group study rooms are ideal for collaborative projects or focused individual work, and a designated silent study room provides a distraction-free environment. The Study Commons also offers computer workstations and a printing station.
Other features include four single-user gender-neutral restrooms and a private, reservable Women’s Philanthropy Network Wellness Room dedicated to supporting breastfeeding students, faculty and staff.
“After years of planning and a full year of construction, we are delighted to welcome students into this new space,” said Dean of Libraries Jeff Steely. “What was an inefficient parking lot is now a vibrant learning space.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the Library North Study Commons will be held Wednesday, Nov. 15, at noon at 100 Decatur St. SE, Atlanta. RSVP here.
The event will also celebrate the grand opening of the new student-run experiential learning café, Saxbys, located in the entrance to the University Library off the greenway.
The Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform (Saxbys E.L.P.) café is managed by a student CEO and provides new entrepreneurial opportunities on campus. It’s one of 27 E.L.P. cafés across the country, and the first in the Southeast.
Its menu includes all-day breakfast items, a range of grilled cheeses, and a selection of beverages including cold brews, energy drinks, smoothies and teas. The café is open Mondays through Thursdays from 7 a.m. to midnight, Fridays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to midnight.