The Leatherby Libraries have undertaken a series of improvements and space-optimization projects to better support student learning, needs, and collaboration! From new furniture and whiteboards to renovated alcoves and refreshed study rooms, these improvements help create library spaces that are more comfortable, functional, and engaging.
First Floor Enhancements
The first floor of the library is a hub on campus where students study and collaborate. Recent enhancements have further transformed the space into a flexible, student-centered learning environment that supports a variety of study styles.
The space now features:
- Newly installed carpet
- New furniture, including lounge seating, couches, laptop tables, round tables, ottomans, bar-height tables with stools, and rearrangeable study tables
- Mobile glass boards to support studying, group work, and brainstorming!
New First Floor Study Room (Room 115)
The new first-floor study room 115 offers students additional space to collaborate and study with greater privacy. In addition to supporting student study sessions, the room will also be used by librarians to host one-on-one reference conferences, providing personalized research assistance to students upon request.
The study room features:
- Newly installed carpet
- Dimmable LED lights
- New furniture, including lounge seating, laptop tables, a square table, and glass whiteboards
- An Apple TV with an HDMI port to support presentations, digital displays, and more
Alumni Association Reading Alcove
The Alumni Association Reading Alcove spotlights the scholarship of Chapman University alumni by featuring a bookcase filled with alumni-authored titles. This space also features the 50 Years Club display, which rotates annually to highlight the graduating class of 50 years ago.
Recent updates have further enhanced the functionality and visibility of this special space:
- Electrical outlets added
- Wall patched and painted to refresh and elevate the alcove’s appearance
- 70” TV installed to showcase alumni stories, digital displays, and special features
Marjorie Perloff Alcove
The new Marjorie Perloff Alcove features a collection of books generously donated posthumously in 2024 by Marjorie Perloff from her personal collection. She was a leading critic of experimental poetry, having written numerous books and essays on the subject. This dedicated space honors her legacy while making her collection accessible to students and researchers.
Enhancements of this space include:
- New shelving installed to house approximately 1,200 selected books from the Marjorie Perloff Collection
- New Marjorie Perloff portrait printed and framed to honor her legacy
- Dimensional lettering was added to formally designate the space as The Marjorie Perloff Alcove
Dahlem-Doti-Struppa Mountaineering Alcove
The Dahlem-Doti-Struppa Mountaineering Alcove celebrates the achievements of Chapman University community members who embarked on expeditions to some of the world’s highest peaks. Recent enhancements highlight newly completed expeditions while improving the display and organization of the space.
Recent enhancements include:
- An updated nameplate
- New frames for photographs
- Freshly repainted wall
- Addition of shelves displaying books from the Mountaineering Alcove collection
Third Floor Alcove
The new third-floor alcove provides students with an additional space to study, relax, and collaborate within the Leatherby Libraries. Formerly a copy room, the space has been transformed into a comfortable seating area featuring The Tale of Genji, an art collection by Tatsuya Ishiodori. The alcove offers a welcoming environment where students can gather, work, or enjoy the artwork while taking a break from their studies.
This space includes:
- New carpet
- LED lighting
- New furniture, including lounge seating, laptop tables, and glass whiteboards
Science & Technology Group Study Room 323
Fresh additions were also added to the Sci-Tech Group Study Room on the 3rd floor!
These brand new features include:
- Dimmable LED lighting
- Carpeting
- A table that can accommodate 6 people
- Lounge seats with movable laptop tables
- A glass board
- A conference video bar
Center for American War Letters
The Center for American War Letters Archives (CAWLA) continues to serve as a vital space for research, reflection, and engagement with firsthand accounts of wartime experiences.
Recent enhancements have refreshed and modernized the space, improving functionality and presentation while preserving its mission’s integrity:
- New carpeting was installed to create a refreshed environment
- Dimmable LED lighting installed to enhance visibility and accommodate exhibits and events
- All walls patched and painted, including the addition of a new accent wall
- An 85” TV installed inside the space to support presentations, digital displays, and more
- A 32” TV added outside the CAWLA entrance to showcase information about the space, hours, and events
- Updated posters to describe the history of the archives and the materials
- A new state flag exhibit was created and installed to enhance interpretive displays
- Wooden pedestal display refinished and stained to preserve and elevate existing exhibit furnishings
Visit these newly improved spaces in the Leatherby Libraries today and experience how these renovated environments create even more opportunities to learn, collaborate, and connect throughout the library.
