The Great Library of Alexandria, Dublin’s Trinity College Library, The Library of Congress, The Vatican Library and The Reading Room at the British Museum. No matter what country a person is from, the library has always been thought of as a quintessential hub of learning. Unfortunately, UMSL students have been unable to enjoy this luxury.

Construction detours, upgrades, flooding and confusion regarding the library’s operating hours, are just a few of the current issues that are keeping students from getting the full campus experience. There are countless films where we see a montage of the main character attempting to pull an all-nighter in a library, only to then be found asleep amongst the racks. UMSL students may find themselves a little disappointed that some aspects of “college life” have been unfortunately halted.

Miles Sprague, a sports management major, says that it has been hard due to some of his classes requiring him to go to the library to check out books on certain topics. Thankfully, this semester has been easier on him because he is not required to go to the library as often. He also mentions that ongoing construction has left him trying to find new places to park and different routes to get to his classes. For these ongoing changes, one thing that is perhaps on the mind of students is the effect on physical health. Sprague, thankfully, has said that he has not been affected.

When Rage Against the Machine’s vocalist Zach De La Rocha angrily declared “I walk the corner to the rubble that used to be the library” in the song “Bulls on Parade”, he was talking of a sanctuary where intelligence was once held in high esteem to now be a place where ideas are no longer needed. Students, perhaps, fear the same outcome. However, these continuous obstacles not only impact them but the faculty as well.

UMSL Associate Dean of Libraries, Jaleh Fazelian, has mentioned that the library is open and normal day-to-day business functions have not been affected. While there are some restricted areas, for the most part, the library has kept operating as normally as it can. Fazelian stated that students can utilize the library’s resources via online chat functions or in-person, where a librarian or student assistant can aid students with their needs.

Despite describing the setting as “an environment of chaos”, Fazelian holds tight to optimism for the changes that are currently underway on campus. She acknowledges that the staff has been doing fairly well. She also wants to reemphasize again that the library is indeed open and has been this whole time. Students, she remarked, should remember that while construction is going to continue into next semester, as well as perhaps the summer, to not let this deter them from coming in.

Fazelian and the staff are excited about the changes coming to the library due to the Transform UMSL plan. Changes included are the location and quantity of the study rooms. The study rooms will be moved to the third floor, while the library staff will be on the fifth floor. With 12 additional study rooms dedicated to group study, the original six will be used for independent study. The new features will also include a parent’s room and five more bathrooms. Cafe TJ will be closing its doors, but not to worry. For a phoenix will rise from the ashes and its name will be Starbucks.

Fazelian hopes to see students coming back into the library once construction is completed. The rest of the university awaits these new changes to be finished as well. We must remain patient. All great things take time. As the French writer Voltaire said, “Perfection is attained by slow degrees; she requires the hand of time.”