Officials recently revamped McKeldin Library’s second floor to emphasize more private study spaces for students.

Students venturing to the second floor of McKeldin Library will find the layout rearranged to create a quieter study space than last year’s group setting that some students had dubbed “Club McKeldin.”

Only a year after library officials unveiled a new look for the second floor of McKeldin — called the Terrapin Learning Commons — the space underwent phase two of its $1.6 million multiphase renovation over the summer and reopened this semester. After hearing requests from students for more study rooms, library officials installed partitions to create more private spaces and created a graduate-student-only area, according to libraries Dean Patricia Steele.

The remodeled floor now features new computers and furniture, including tables, plush couches, whiteboards and partitions designed to allow students to create their own study spaces. The last phase of the floor’s makeover this semester will be complete tomorrow or Friday when officials roll out more new furniture.

Funds for the renovations came from the library’s budget and various donations, Steele said.

Last year, maintenance crews began the first phase of the transition; they painted warmer colors on the walls, replaced aging carpets, added electrical outlets and introduced new furniture and more computers, printers and scanners to the floor.

Steele said when officials initially set out to redesign the second floor, they wanted to create an environment unlike the rest of the library and enable students to work together without noise constraints.

“The whole idea was just to create a floor where collaborative work could go on,” Steele said. “That was the biggest need we have heard from students.”

After hearing requests from students, Steele said library officials decided to add more furniture with this year’s funds to change the layout and the floor’s atmosphere.

“It’s a big floor, so if you just launch a bunch of furniture down, there’s no coherence,” Steele said. “Part of the effort is for students to use the furniture to make spaces of their own.”

Several students, such as senior English and secondary education major Beth Barkley, said the revamped space helps her and her peers block out noise and other distractions.

“Last year’s was a lot more open space, so sound could travel a lot,” Barkley said. “I think it helps with not only the sound, but the focus — you kind of feel like you’re in your own study area or zone.”

However, sophomore government and politics major Karen Contreras said she liked last year’s layout better.

“They took away a lot of space. There was a lot of tables last year, and now it’s harder to find seats,” Contreras said. “If you really needed it to be quieter, you should go somewhere else.”

Some students agreed the new changes have transformed the atmosphere on McKeldin’s second floor.

“It’s definitely toned down from the ‘Club McKeldin’ times,” Barkley said.

The remodeled floor also features a new graduate student section with a main study area, private study spaces and a table for collaborative work, as well as a multi-purpose room intended for group study and relaxation. Both rooms are accessible only to graduate students.

Kirsten Crase, Graduate Student Government chief of staff, said graduate students have lauded the space’s airy feel.

“It’s a comfortable, pleasant setting — definitely a pleasant workplace,” Crase said. “It’s a definite upgrade. There has not been a space just for grad students.”

foley@umdbk.com