Grand Valley students sign final beam for Pew Library

More than 1,000 Grand Valley students made their mark on Laker history by signing the final beam for the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons April 12. The four-story beam will complete the steel erection of the library, which will open in the fall of 2013.

Signers included Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas, Student Senate President Natalie Cleary and kids from the Children’s Enrichment Center. Kate Pew Wolters, former chair and current trustee of Grand Valley’s Board of Trustees, was also in attendance and signed the beam for the building that is named for her mother.

“It’s great to see all the Lakers here to celebrate the new library that will take us into another stage at Grand Valley,” said Haas at the event. “Seeing all the excitement and support is a great testimonial to our university.”

Cleary said, “Being here and seeing us all come together is what it truly means to be a Laker for a lifetime.”

The event gave students an opportunity to express their gratitude to the donors who made the project possible. More than 1,400 private donors, students, alumni, and faculty and staff members have provided support and donations for the new facility.

The Pew Library will provide 1,500 seats for student study, 20 group study rooms, and offices and support areas for faculty and staff members. There will be room for 150,000 books on open shelves and 600,000 books in an automated storage/retrieval system.

Visit gvsu.edu/library/newbuilding to see floor plans and to take a virtual tour of the library.