Artemis G. Kirk, the new University librarian, spoke to the Georgetown University Student Association Tuesday on her plans for improving campus libraries.
Kirk joins the Georgetown community after almost 30 years of experience in library administration, must recently at the University of Rhode Island.
“One of the things I hope to do here is to create a ‘strategic intent.’ I want these libraries to grow to the level of the University nationally,” Kirk said.
Kirk’s long term plans include increasing fundraising, looking into neighborhood borrowing and local library consortia, and improving resources for students.
“You have a wonderful library staff and a wonderful library here. We spend millions of dollars on resources here every year, and it is not trivial,” Kirk said. “We hope you will use resources for the rest of your life, and we hope you will start that process here.”
In the near future, Kirk plans to increase library hours to 24 hours a day, five days a week by Dec. 1 so that students can enjoy “all libraries, all the time.”
In order to improve the aesthetic of the library, Kirk said the exterior of the library would receive a “power wash” and that more significant aesthetic changes to the exterior of the building were being considered.
Additionally, Kirk has met with student leaders of the Students of Georgetown, Inc. to discuss the possibility of creating a coffee shop on the second floor of Lauinger Library.
“We’re willing to look into [the coffee shop], but it’s not going to happen tomorrow,” Kirk said.
