University Libraries has reopened its event spaces for student and instructional use for the 2021 spring semester.
Michael Pearce, director of strategic engagement for University Libraries, said that library event spaces were closed to the public in the fall and used as overflow rooms for social distancing workspaces. But they’re now reopened to allow more in-person experiences for students.
“We will be able to host at least one student-centered event from campus organizations Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. starting the week of Feb. 1,” Pearce said.
A student-centered event is defined as any event that serves to promote the academic or social needs of current UA students. Participants for such events must be current UA students. The rooms will not be available for non-student-centered events.
Each event has a time limit of two hours and a maximum number of 25 attendees. However, livestreaming will allow organizers to stream events synchronously for people who cannot attend in person. Social distancing and masks will be required at all times.
“We are also available to host at least two movie nights per month in the Camellia Room of Gorgas Library using Kanopy or one of our other streaming video collections and also have in-person discussions of the film afterward,” Pearce said.
To make reservations for a student-centered event or to schedule a movie night, contact Pearce at pearc007@ua.edu or Libraries Event Coordinator Emily Burnett at emburnett@ua.edu. Faculty who would like to screen films for their students in the UA Libraries streaming collections should contact a library liaison to coordinate scheduling and messaging.
For faculty who want to use the libraries’ spaces for in-person library instruction, detailed guidelines are available.