“The goal is to transform the experience that students researchers and the community have in the research library to offer a lot more than what traditional libraries offer,” Ms. Tancheva said. “Now we are also offering access to experiences, to experiential learning and to the library as a big gathering space.” ...more
Hillman Library Reinvention
The Hillman Library Reinvention is complete! Thank you to the Pitt community for your patience and understanding during this process! Join us for an Open House on September 4 to celebrate. Details to follow.
The vision
Hillman Library will be the principal hub of intellectual activity on campus providing services, resources, and inspiring spaces—from vibrant to serene—that advance academic study, stimulate innovation in knowledge creation, encourage intellectual exploration and creativity, and foster energetic collaborative exchange.
The research
University Facilities and the ULS worked with research firm brightspot to: “… identify changes and future needs in academic research, learning, and teaching in order to generate opportunities for how spaces and services in Pitt’s academic library can respond to these future needs.”
Brightspot conducted focus groups, interviews, and surveys with Pitt faculty, and students, as well as library staff. This report is the result of that process and is one of many inputs into the process of designing spaces and services for a reinvented Hillman.
The basics
Because of the essential role it plays on campus Hillman will remain open for the duration of the renovation and, because of this, the renovation will take longer than it otherwise might. Currently, a target of five years is in place. During the renovation, all library collections will remain accessible, whether relocated within Hillman Library or via the Thomas Blvd. Library (the library off-site storage facility), and all library services will continue.
Preparation work for the renovation has begun so you can expect to see an increase in activity in the building along with some changes and relocations of collections and services as we lay the groundwork for the renovation. While some disruption is inevitable, we remain committed to providing the support at levels you have come to expect from the ULS.
Collection movement
Graduate Study Spaces
PhD Dissertation Writing Room and Graduate Study Room on the 4th floor of Hillman Library will be closed to the public at the end of March 2021 as part of phase III of the renovation. More information can be found on the PhD Dissertation Writing Room or the Graduate Study Room page.
Ways to Give
You can be a part of the exciting renovation and reinvention of Hillman Library. Join us on our journey as we reimagine and renovate physical spaces, programs, and services to position Pitt students, faculty, and researchers for academic, career, and research success. Hillman Library is creating new open and group-study spaces, adding new technologies, engaging people with unique archives and the treasures of our special collections, and actively partnering librarians with students, faculty, and researchers in new ways to help them discover new resources, manage mountains of data; publish an online free journal, create a film, podcast, or virtual reality experience, and so much more. Hillman Library named gift and recognition opportunities are available.
For more information visit library.pitt.edu/give
News
Ground Floor and New Entrance Opening May 8
The renovated ground floor and the new main entrance near Schenley Drive will open on May 8!
Floors 1 and 2 (and 3 and 4) are now open. The newly renovated floors 2 and 1 contain:
An expanded and relocated Open Lab, a collaboration between the University Center for Teaching and Learning and the University Library System. Through workshops, class sessions, consultations and trainings, the Lab aims to connect the Pitt community with technology for hand-on making and experiential learningA large, open study area with movable furniture, which can be reconfigured into event spaceA significantly expanded indoor/outdoor caféAn accessible ramp entrance on the Forbes Ave. side of the buildingWe apologize for any disruptions…
Archives & Special Collections and Renovated Hillman Third Floor Open!
Hillman's renovated third floor and with it Archives & Special Collections now open! The new Archives & Special Collections space contains significant physical and digital exhibition space, an expansive reading room, and a large classroom, allowing for hands-on interaction with collection materials. Visit during library open hours or take a virtual tour!
