Episcopal’s Jacob F. Bryan III Library rededicated after renovations

Episcopal’s Jacob F. Bryan III Library rededicated after renovations
Jacob F. Bryan III’s family: Seated: Kendall, Eleanor, J.F., Peggy, Carter, and Cheryl Bryan; standing: Sarah Bryan Holyer, Bella, Jeff, Nicole, Klare, Annie, James, and Josh Bryan.

As part of Episcopal School of Jacksonville’s 50th anniversary Lead the Way capital campaign, the reimagined Jacob F. Bryan III Library was rededicated Sept. 20 while its namesake’s family looked on.

“We are pleased to support Episcopal, which the Bryan family has done for 50 years. My father was one of the School’s founders,” said J.F. Bryan IV, of Ortega, along with brothers Kendall and Carter, and other family members.

“He was the oldest of six children, and he never went to college. He went to work instead, and he helped to send his five siblings to college,” Bryan said. “Our family is grateful that the Jacob F. Bryan III Library will continue to enrich the lives of students.”

A center of academic, collaborative and technological activity on campus since it opened in 1991-92, the library now sports an updated for space for use as an information center, group study facility, media center, reading room and meeting space.

“The Bryan family and all of those who have made this vital campus hub an exciting and beneficial place to be truly understand how important it is to keep libraries relevant to our college-bound, technology-savvy students,” said Head of School Adam Greene.

Episcopal worked with a library consultant to update the space, maximize flexibility, embrace technology and diversify students’ learning opportunities. The circulation desk has a smaller footprint, and a glassed-in area on the northeast wall of the library overlooking the Regan Plaza and River Field has become the Harden Conference Room, capable of being divided into three smaller spaces or opened into one large space.

New furniture sets are placed to help define zones in the library based on students’ needs and are equipped with power so students’ devices can recharge. The study zones include frosted-glass-divided carrels with noise-canceling headphones for individual study as well as desk-adjacent sofas and chairs for group work. Noise-absorbing materials chosen for floors and ceilings in soothing blue and green colors aid in separating the space.

An expanded, better equipped Makerspace has new computers with software for creative endeavors like recording, playing, and editing music. General arts and crafts supplies will be available, in addition to a 3-D printer students can use to create and duplicate designs. Media specialists will look to students to guide the evolution of this space, responding to interest and demand for additional supplies and workshops

Books are still a prominent feature of the library, so additional improvements include a permanent home for the Louise Bignon Archives and Episcopal’s “hard copy” history. The Gooding Boardroom and library lobby were also updated in the first phase of renovations and the new Alumni Hall of Honor is displayed in the renovated space.

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