Oscar A. Silverman Library
The Oscar A. Silverman Library is a major library located on the third floor of Capen Hall at UB's North Campus. Commonly referred to as Silverman Library, it serves as a central study and learning hub for UB students and is the university's only library open 24 hours a day during the fall and spring semesters. The library is named in honor of Dr. Oscar Ansell Silverman (1900-1972), a renowned UB professor of English who also served as the Director of University Libraries from 1960 to 1968.[1] Silverman Library offers a variety of study spaces, technology and services geared towards students. It is designed as a modern, collaborative learning environment at the heart of UB's academic spine.
History
[edit | edit source]Oscar A. Silverman Library is named for Dr. Oscar A. Silverman, a distinguished scholar of modern literature and a notable figure in the growth of UB's library system. Dr. Silverman joined UB's faculty in 1926 as an English professor and later chaired the English department (from 1956 to 1963). As library director (1960 to 1968), he oversaw a period of dramatic expansion, in which the university's collections grew from about 350,000 volumes to over 1 million volumes under his leadership. Silverman was instrumental in acquiring notable rare book and poetry collections for UB, including works by Robert Graves and James Joyce (Silverman himself was a noted James Joyce scholar). His legacy as "a giant in the development of the University at Buffalo Libraries" is commemorated by naming the library in his honor.[1] The Silverman Library originally occupied multiple floors of Capen Hall when the North Campus was developed in the 1970s, but now only occupies the 3rd floor and part of the 2nd floor.
Renovation and Features
[edit | edit source]In 2014, UB began an extensive renovation of Silverman Library as part of the university's "Heart of the Campus" initiative to modernize student spaces. The library was completely redesigned over two years at a cost of $7.2 million, transforming 45,000 square feet into a new space with additional amenities. The renovated Silverman Library officially reopened on August 24th, 2016, with a grand opening attended by UB's President and others.[2]
One of the features introduced in the renovation include 17 group study rooms equipped with flat-panel displays to collaborate digitally, as well as two flexible classrooms that allow faculty to experiment to teach in-library. A grand reading room (known as Silverman Silent Study) is a spacious, oak-paneled room that incorporates archival photos of UB's history and provides a silent reading space for about 80 UB students. Over 100 public computers were added, as well as dedicated media recording studios, allowing students to create and edit video or audio projects on-site. A new cafe called "Whispers at Capen" opened on the third floor, serving Starbucks-style coffee and snacks, and is overseen by UB's Campus Dining and Shops. In total, the third floor accommodates around 880 people, with a mix of open tables, carrels, soft seating, and other areas for group work. 1,000+ electrical outlets were installed (many with USB ports built in) to meet the device charging needs of students.[2]
Services and Usage
[edit | edit source]Silverman Library is one of the most heavily used facilities at UB, attracting nearly 1.3 million visits each year (as of its reopening in 2016). [2] Students utilize the space for individual study, group project work, tutoring sessions, and accessing technology. The library staff provide information services and help at an active Library Services Desk located centrally on the third floor. Silverman Library is designed to support collaborative learning, as its floor plan allows students to learn in different areas of the library, not just in traditional carrels or stacks. Glass walls and bright lighting are present throughout the day and night.