AUC Library Debuts Newly Renovated Learning Commons

The AUC Library reopened on the first day of classes, following summer renovations to the plaza and garden levels that created more flexible and collaborative spaces designed around how students study, work together and engage with technology today. 

"It is not simply an update to the existing spaces, but a rethinking of how the library can support students today."

The newly redesigned Learning Commons includes new furniture, flooring, lighting and technology as well as upgraded networks, modernized study spaces and a state-of-the-art Accessibility Hub. Seating capacity has also increased and will continue to grow in the coming weeks. The renovations represent the capstone project of the University’s seven-year Learning Spaces Strategic Plan Initiative, a larger effort to transform learning environments across campus, including classrooms, outdoor learning spaces and the library terrace. 

“The Learning Commons are collaborative zones where students can interact and engage with each other, which is part of how they enhance their learning and AUC experience,” Lamia Eid, ’88, ’92, dean of Libraries and Learning Technologies, said.

Along with the updated seating and technology arrangements, the renovation curates a new permanent exhibition for the Rare Books and Special Collections Library. The exhibition is located on the library’s plaza floor, making rare collections visible to a wider audience and encouraging students to explore the collections themselves.

Why the Revamp

The changes reflect a broader shift in how students use academic libraries, Eid explained. When the AUC Library was designed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the emphasis was largely on individual study and access to information, featuring a large computer lab and desktop computers arranged around circular tables. Today, students use library spaces differently. They bring their own laptops and devices to work in groups, exchange ideas and collaborate in ways that better support how they learn. 

“Academic libraries around the world have responded to this shift by moving from the traditional Information Commons Model toward Learning Commons that support collaboration, interaction and active learning,” Eid said. “The current renovations at the AUC Library build on that change. It is not simply an update to the existing spaces, but a rethinking of how the library can support students today.”

Technology is now integrated into different spaces at the library to support active learning, allowing students to share content across screens and work with various groups. The shift away from fixed desktop computers also reflects students increasingly using their own devices. The Learning Commons now offers more Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)-enabled spaces, while library laptops remain available for students who need them. “This creates more opportunities for students to participate in discussions, work together and take an active role in their learning,” Eid said.

At the same time, the renovation recognizes that students do not all learn in the same way. The library has maintained quieter and more traditional study environments on the first and second floors, as well as the 24/7 study rooms. All PCs previously located on the plaza and garden levels have been redistributed to these spaces, along with the existing furniture and layouts. “This gives students a place to work independently using equipment they are familiar with,” Eid explained. 

"The Learning Commons now offers more opportunities to study and work together, while the rest of the library continues to provide quieter spaces for focused study. The renewed AUC Library brings these different needs together, giving students more choice in how they use the space and how they learn.”

What Students Have to Say

Students and AUC community members had the opportunity to experience the changes firsthand when the library reopened on the first day of the Fall 2026 semester. Discover Your Path interactive activities offered a gamified way to explore the new spaces, resources and services. 

“This is great,” master’s student Joseph Zimbler said about the updated space. “People don’t always know how great library resources are. So now, hopefully, more people can go to them.” 

The changes to these two levels allow for a more social atmosphere, one that sophomore Mariam Gohar appreciated. “I use the library a lot,” Gohar said. “I use it to hang out with my friends. If I want to study, I would use the second-floor study rooms.” 

This social element was designed purposefully to enhance student collaboration. “We have always been creating spaces to address different kinds of users,” Eid said. “At the end, users choose which space they’d like to work in.”

The plaza and garden level spaces are still evolving, with additional furniture and other enhancements to come. “We are excited to continue building on what is already in place and further enhancing these spaces to better serve our community,” Eid said. 

“The goal is not simply to make the library look new,” Eid affirmed. “It is to create a place that works better for the students who use it. The Learning Commons now offers more opportunities to study and work together, while the rest of the library continues to provide quieter spaces for focused study. The renewed AUC Library brings these different needs together, giving students more choice in how they use the space and how they learn.”

With a new way to learn, interact and collaborate, the plaza and garden floors of the library are open Sunday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 10 pm, with the first and second floors open until 9:30 pm, and the Rare Books and Special Collections Library open until 4:30 pm.