The new library is being built in response to needing to convert the old library into student housing to support continued enrollment growth.
Midway University’s campus expansion project has been bolstered by a donation from the James A. and Martha R. Brown Charitable Foundation in the amount of $2 million. The money will be used to construct a new library on campus as the existing library is being converted into campus housing in order to accommodate the continued growth of the university’s student body.
According to an article on Midway University’s website, Dr. John P. Marsden, the university’s president, was quoted as saying of the contribution, "We are thankful to the Brown Charitable Foundation for their belief in our mission and this project. With our nine consecutive years of enrollment growth, we continue to move at a fast pace to address facility needs to meet student demand.” He added, “This commitment 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.”
In August 2023, the university’s existing library building was partially converted into student housing to accommodate 43 new beds for the overflow of students the university had admitted. The second floor of the library became temporary student housing, while the first floor continued to function as a library. This was Phase I of the construction project.
Phase II, which is the construction of the new library, is currently underway, as the project has reached the stage of planning and designing the new space. The building will be 20,000 square feet and will include all of what is traditionally expected of a library, including stacks and study spaces, but will also include more state-of-the-art additions, as well. There will be an esports arena, a computer lab, a cafe, work areas, seminar spaces, offices, and classrooms. Two-thirds of the estimated $9 million price tag for the project has been secured, including the most recent gift from the Brown Charitable Foundation.
Phase III of the project will be the final phase and will commence when the new library is built. This phase will see the original library building fully converted into a residential hall, with the first floor and the lower level of the building being renovated much like the second floor was in 2023.
The new library building and the conversion of the old library building signify the university’s commitment to continual improvements.
For more information about Midway University, visit the school’s website.