Library
The New School’s main library, Fogelman, was in 65 Fifth Avenue which is being demolished for a new building. As a result, most of the books were stored offsite, the dedicated library was eliminated, and shelving, books, and study space were wedged into the computer labs, film production spaces, and student spaces of already-crowded Arnhold Hall, at 55 W 13th St.
A university needs a library in order to promote serious academic study.
Since the administration knows there is a problem with the library or lack thereof, it often refers students to NYU’s Bobst Library and other South Manhattan Consortium libraries, but this is really a second-class solution since we don’t have full privileges there, for example we cannot reserve rooms or study carrels, use some journals or internet service. We still need our own library.
Many solutions are possible, but the current one isn’t good enough because a university needs a library. This problem also relates to our student center proposal since if we had a student center, many of the current functions at 55 W 13th (like the student activities office and study rooms) could go to the student center, freeing up space at 55 for more books and resources.
See also our proposal for rearranging space on campus and starting a student center. We hope the new Committee on Facilities and Space will address the library too.