The current library is being used partially for temporary housing. When the new library is built, the current library will be fully converted into student housing.
Midway University has plans underway to build a new library to replace the current one that is being used as housing to accommodate the influx of students the university has been enrolling at a steady increase. A $2 million grant from the James A. and Martha R. Brown Charitable Foundation has helped push Midway University past the halfway point of the estimated $9 million it will need to complete the project.
According to an article on Midway University’s website, Dr. John P. Marsden, who is the president of Midway University, expressed gratitude for the grant and explained why constructing a new library is necessary, saying, “We are thankful to the Brown Charitable Foundation for their gift, and most importantly, their belief in our mission and this project. With our eight consecutive years of enrollment growth, we have been moving at a fast pace to address facility needs to meet student demand.”
Dr. Marsden went on to say, “When we received the good news from the foundation, we were equally pleased to learn that this was the foundation’s largest single gift they had ever presented. This was a reassurance to us that others see the path we are on and fully support our efforts. This gift will have a direct impact on our entire student body and help us set a strong foundation for our future.”
The James A. and Martha R. Brown Charitable Foundation awards grants typically ranging from $10,000 to $1 million, making the $2 million it awarded to Midway University out of the ordinary. The foundation provides grants to institutions and organizations that support education or youths in need.
The plan to build a new library at Midway University is three-fold and it began phase one in 2023. The top floor of the current library on campus was renovated to make space for 43 beds for students for whom there was no other on campus living space. Phase two will see the construction of the new library, and phase three will include completely converting the current library into a residence hall to house the steadily increasing stream of new students enrolling at Midway University.
The new library will be 20,000 square feet and will include library stacks, meeting spaces, computers, classrooms, offices, a cafe, and an esports arena.
Joni Douglas, who serves as the Director and Board Chair of the James A. and Martha R. Brown Foundation, said of the foundation’s donation, “We are very excited to be partnering with Midway University in furthering their mission. This library will provide a safe space of learning for future students across Kentucky and beyond for years to come, and we are so very proud to help expand the educational opportunities for all the students at such a wonderful University.”
For more information about Midway University, visit the school’s website.