One may not know it upon entering Penrose Library, but changes have been made over the summer. The library has expanded its collection, including the addition of new electronic resources.

Many changes were made in the Allen Reading Room. New carpet has been put in and the furniture is in the process of being reupholstered and replaced. Glass doors were installed on the third floor balcony overlooking the reading room to minimize noise and a selection of current periodicals is now on display.

The library’s collection of DVDs and VHS tapes is also in the process of being moved to the second and third floors of the DeMueles room, which is located next to the Allen Room. All videos now have a Library of Congress call number, making it easier to browse through the videos by genre.

The Penrose staff was quick to dispel any rumors that the library will cease to be open 24 hours a day, and President Bridges has issued a statement reaffirming the fact that Penrose will continue to be open at all hours.

Penrose Library’s hours are important to students. “Whitman students have such dynamic schedules that we need to have very open hours to study,” says sophomore Carrie Laxson.

These hours are a factor behind Whitman’s consistent top rankings in the Princeton Review’s “Best College Libraries.” Whitman ranks seventh in this category for 2008.

First-year Elizabeth Bragg says that this ranking was especially important in her college choice. “Penrose Library is everything that Whitman is combined into one place: it is a resource for students to succeed and both a social and learning environment. I think it’s a great resource for students, and it is one of the factors that influenced my decision to come to Whitman.”