Carrier Library Renovation and Expansion to Begin in May 2023

Posted on: October 18, 2022

A new and expanded Carrier Library is on the horizon!

An artist's rendering of the future curved atrium southwest entrance to Carrier Library.

The Commonwealth of Virginia recently approved funding for a major renovation and expansion of Carrier Library. This support will help us create a more welcoming, safe, inclusive campus library with modernized systems, reenvisioned services, and inspiring spaces for teaching, learning, research, and expert consultation. The renovated building will also include space for the Furious Flower Poetry Center!

Construction will begin in summer 2023. Carrier Library will remain open for the 2022-23 academic year. You might see some changes in the building this year, such as new locations for furniture or collections, as we prepare for renovation. The building will then close for construction, which will likely begin soon after graduation festivities in May 2023.

Rose Library, the Music Library, and the Educational Technology & Media Center will remain open when Carrier is under construction. JMU is also preparing additional spaces on campus to meet your needs during construction.

Carrier Library is anticipated to re-open in Fall 2026, following the successful completion of this major renovation and expansion.

Why is JMU renovating Carrier? Concerns about accessibility and ADA compliance, crowding, safety, and overall navigability of the aging facility are the motivating factors. We want the new Carrier Library to be universally accessible, easy to visit, environmentally responsible, and welcoming for Dukes and local communities! This is also a once-in-a-lifetime chance to update and reimagine Carrier Library for JMU’s future as a national university. The new building will include 24-hour student study space, beautiful reading rooms, outdoor terraces and a café, consultation and group study rooms, and expanded facilities for library instruction, innovative educational technology, digital scholarship, distinctive collections, and more.

How was the project funded? The Carrier Library renovation is made possible by a capital project fund approved by our Virginia legislature and Governor. This means that the funding for the project has no impact on the cost of attending JMU, nor on JMU’s budget or salaries. Learn more.

How will I learn about the renovation and how to access library services? During the renovation project, you will still have access to expert help, both in person and online, and to study spaces, books, and other services and resources. Find up-to-date information on our Carrier Renovation page, in our social media channels, and in our regular messages to campus.

Please contact libraries@jmu.edu if you have questions about the renovation.

Originally published on August 23, 2022. Edited October 18, 2022 to add links.

Categorised in: ,