UBC Library has reopened the Nass Reading Room following a much-anticipated space refresh. This quiet study space, located at the south end of Level 4 in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC), is a popular destination for students looking for a spot to work with great views and limited noise.
“The Nass Reading Room has these beautiful big windows and one of the most fabulous views in the building, so we wanted to take advantage of that and create a really great study nook designed to meet student needs that celebrates this beautiful campus,” says Rochelle Mazar, IKBLC Assistant Director.
Together with Julie Mitchell, Associate University Librarian and IKBLC Director, Mazar consulted with current UBC students to develop the new design and found that students prioritized having space to spread out and easily-accessible power outlets. The new room will draw in students looking for study carrels—desks that come equipped with high dividers, increasing privacy to create dedicated individual-use spaces. “UBC students really love this kind of furniture and have asked us for more of it,” says Mazar, noting that the carrels were built by hand and come equipped with plenty of power outlets.
The Nass Reading Room has been renovated to include more dedicated individual-use spaces.
Study carrels in the Nass Reading Room come equipped with power outlets and high dividers.
The Nass Reading Room is also a dual-purpose space, housing two classrooms—Hazelton (Room 460) and Wells (Room 461)— which draw steady foot traffic. “Because of that, we put some sharable, accessible, group tables by the door, framed by tall windows. We did that to signal that this is the area of the room most likely to get interrupted by traffic in and out. Students may end up sitting here in between classes, or working with classmates.”
All of the group tables are fully powered, ready to charge laptops and mobile devices.
“I’ve been hoping to renovate the Nass Reading Room for over five years now, so am delighted we could move this project forward,” says Julie Mitchell, Associate University Librarian and Director of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. “Having observed student usage patterns over the years, I had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted with this renovation, but also insisted that we consult students on the design, to make sure we got it right. We also planned the space with COVID safety in mind, creating a more generous footprint between study seats.”
Study spaces in the Nass Reading Room are available to all, with no reservations required. Safety and space use guidelines are currently in place at IKBLC. For more information, visit the IKBLC website.
This project is part of UBC Library’s strategic direction to inspire with innovative spaces and services.
Learn more about our Strategic Framework.
