To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Newton Gresham Library is hosting a student open house and two faculty and staff mixers to commemorate its history on campus.
The student open house will occur Aug. 27 from 2-4 p.m. in the lobby area by the main Library Service Desk. The faculty and staff mixers will take place Sept. 4 and 5.
“The events will celebrate our history while looking forward to the upcoming building renovation,” Executive Director of Library Services Eric Owen said. “The theme for the anniversary is ‘Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.’”
During the open house, the first 100 students to meet their major-specific librarians will get a limited edition 50th anniversary T-shirt. Students are also welcome to participate in activities including coloring, button making and library trivia quizzes with prizes.
Popcorn and cupcakes will be served at the open house. Sammy the Bearkat will also join Owen for a cake cutting at 2:30 p.m.
The two mixers are informal networking events that will give faculty and staff across the campus an opportunity to meet with library faculty and staff over drinks and snacks. There will be a cake cutting with Owen at 2:30 p.m. each day as well.
The anniversary celebrations are taking place in anticipation of some big changes for the Newton Gresham Library building.
“Beginning in early 2020, as a joint effort with the Academic Success Center (ASC), the library will embark on a substantial renovation project to improve the existing study areas—reorganizing the physical library collection and creating new collaborative spaces for the ASC to move into the library building,” Owen said.
The impending renovations will focus on the first and second floors.
“This renovation will ultimately transform the Newton Gresham Library into a more inviting, technologically accessible and collaborative academic learning space for all students and the broader campus community,” Owen said.
Renovation plans are still developing. The Houstonian will provide updates on the project periodically as more information becomes available.
More information about the open house and mixers is available on the university website.