#alkek

By: Alison Quisenberry April 3, 2019

Texas State students are no strangers to seeing construction projects all around them. Along with the LBJ Student Center, Alkek Library is undergoing some major changes. 

The Alkek construction project may seem an inconvenience now, but the $14.3 million project will add some much needed upgrades to the student library. The first, second, fourth and seventh levels are all being renovated. The first floor will be technology central, including virtual reality and digital design centers, 3D printers and an Omni-globe, which will be used for research to map worldwide events, simulating weather patterns and viewing ocean currents. YouStar Studios and a Creative Manufacturing Center will also be found on the first floor. 

Texas State junior Gavin Magee said the renovations should bring Texas State technology into the 21st century. 

The second floor will include a Starbucks, which will be the coffee chain's third location on campus. The fourth floor will remain home to the SLAC tutoring labs and also include a Graduate Commons. The new area for graduate students will have study spaces, a lounge area and lockers. “Graduate students finally have a place to call their own,” said Isabel Valdez, an exercise and sports science graduate student. 

By: Mary Diegel March 06, 2018

Alkek Library -- the home of SLAC, Wittliff, late-night cram sessions and those infamous stairs -- offers a wide variety of resources that can help students throughout their college careers. 

Although Alkek is known as the powerhouse for studying at Texas State, it has much more to provide than cubicles and books. 

Alkek's website describes many tools that students can use to make their college experience better. There are guides, library loans, and streaming tutorials. Students can learn new crafts or hone existing skills. 

Texas State Library Marketing and Promotions Coordinator, Debbie Pitts, says many students aren't aware of the many assets Alkek has. For example: the subject librarian. 

“Every subject area has its own designated librarian, so they are called subject librarians. So if you are a mass communication student, there’s a mass communication librarian you can just look up on our website who it is and that person is available to do research consultations with you,” said Pitts.

Alkek continues to expand its resources to accommodate the university's students, faculty and staff. 

The library even has an area for mothers with newborns, and it has studios for video and audio production with a new project called YouStar.

“We’re talking about adding virtual reality centers and graphic design centers. Just a lot of digital design type things will be on the first floor,” said Pitts.

Library administrators say the goal is to enhance the learning environment for students. 

With midterms and finals approaching, it’s not too late to get acquainted with Alkek’s resources.