A New Look for the Library

By Karen Zoller

Those returning to the Clara Fritzsche Library this past fall were met with a pleasant surprise. Renovations, beginning with the construction of the Smart Classroom, culminated with a complete remodeling of the second floor of the facility including new carpeting, ceiling and lighting and a new coat of paint. All of the shelves holding the library’s print periodicals collection were repainted and realigned. The wide aisles now give an airy, spacious appearance with plenty of natural light and views of the beautiful Notre Dame campus from every window. Clerestory windows at the top of newly constructed interior walls also contribute to the feeling of openness. A new floor to ceiling wall map provides a local point on the east wall of the map and atlas area. At the top of the stairs, a new lounge area with comfortable seating is proving to be a popular place for students to congregate.

These photos demonstrate the progression of construction on the library's second floor.

The former audio-visual area in the southwest quadrant of the second floor underwent a dramatic transformation into a state-of-the-art forty-seat electronic classroom, equipped with two Smart Boards and laptops for each student. Smart technology enables instructors to use a more interactive approach to teaching and to integrate graphics, PowerPoint slides, DVDs and videos seamlessly into their presentations. The Smart Classroom is already a popular place for classes and is used for workshops, classes and meetings by faculty and staff trained in the use of the technology available in the room.

The library’s second floor is also headquarters for two new initiatives on campus. The old Media Lab has been converted into an attractive office for the Director of the Nursing Program, Dr. Diane Jedlicka. The space formerly occupied by the Curriculum Library is now the home of the Academic Support Center, run by Director Gretchen Walsh, and Assistant Director, Mary Jo O’Neill. Equipped with a large classroom, new computers, and four rooms for tutoring and individual study, the Center supports the College’s Learning Differences program. Every effort has been made by Gretchen and Mary Jo to provide a welcoming, relaxing and enriching atmosphere conducive to effective learning with comfortable furniture, walls painted a soothing shade of blue and soft pastel artwork on the walls.

Karen Zoller is the Director of the Clara Fritzsche Library

Additional photos of the library renovation may be viewed on the Clara Fritzsche Library’s web
site at http://www.NotreDameCollege.edu/library/new.aspx 

For more information about the Academic Support Center, visit http://www.NotreDameCollege.edu/campus_life/AcademicSupportCenter.aspx or call 216.373.5185.

Watch the Notre Dame College Website for further updates on nursing initiatives. For more information on our current partnership with Huron School of Nursing visit http://www.NotreDameCollege.edu/academics/healthSciences/

The Smart Classroom

The goal of the Smart Classroom is to increase the campus-wide instructional technology capacity of Notre Dame College by creating a space where both students and faculty have access to the computer and multimedia technology.

Smart Classroom technology, featuring interactive computer and projection technology, enhances communication and promotes active learning by allowing exposure to a myriad of sources that expand and help clarify concepts in all subjects. Further, Smart Classroom technology exposes students to state-of-the-art presentation systems that they are likely to encounter in careers in business or education.

The Smart Classroom was built through the support of the following benefactors:

The Abington Foundation
Adventures in Automation
Arthur S. Armstrong
The Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening Foundation
The Cleveland Foundation
H.C.S. Foundation
John P. Murphy Foundation
Anne T. Link ’57
The William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation
SMARTer Kids Foundation

Thank you on behalf of Notre Dame College students, faculty and staff!

The Falcon Cafe Opens at Notre Dame

Notre Dame’s new coffee lounge, the Falcon Cafe, opened in October on the first floor of the Clara Fritzsche Library. It is operated by Normandy Catering, the same company that services the College’s dining facilities.

The Falcon Cafe features many of the popular drinks available at traditional Starbucks stores along with a selection of fresh bakery.