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Archer Alcove offers place to relax for library visitors

By Costa Maragos Posted: February 6, 2018 1:00 p.m.

Kinesiology students (l-r) Luqman Salad, Munir Abudulhadi, and Daniyal Jabbar checking out the Archer Alcove.
Kinesiology students (l-r) Luqman Salad, Munir Abudulhadi, and Daniyal Jabbar checking out the Archer Alcove. Photo courtesy of External Relations

The Dr. John Archer Library’s “de-stressing” zone has a new name and a new look.

The room, located next to the Archway Gallery on the main floor, is now called the Archer Alcove as suggested by English student Brittany Masters. The name was chosen from student submissions and officially announced at the grand opening of the Archer Alcove.

The room, once home to photocopiers, is a welcome addition to the Library. It offers a relaxing spot for a cup of freshly-ground coffee, a soft drink, as well as access to a treadmill, games, puzzles, and colouring.   

Archer Alcove
Jordan Howie, a third-year business student, with fresh ground coffee featured at the Archer Alcove.
“We want an area where students feel both comfortable and a place to relax and take a break from studying,” says Brett Waytuck, University Librarian. “I think what it really means is we’re looking at how we can create a community within the Library for students. It recognizes that if you are here at night, you don’t have to walk all over campus or someplace else to get a coffee or a drink. It’s all available to you right here.”

The students attending the grand opening were impressed.

“Now students can see the Library more than just a place to study but a place to relax, socialize, have a coffee and be stress free for a little bit,” says Munir Abdulhadi, a Kinesiology student.

Abdulhadi was checking out the Archer Alcove with friends Luqman Salad and Daniyal Jabbar, who are also enrolled in Kinesiology.

“The idea is great. A place you can go to de-stress,” says Jabbar. “There are a lot of students here studying for hours and hours. It’s a nice place to go to relax and recuperate then come back and hit the grind one more time.”

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