University of Virginia students lined up at 7:30 a.m. on Monday morning to be the first inside the recently reopened Alderman Library. It would be impressive for college kids on any day – but especially 12 days before the spring semester even begins. They were eager to get a first look at the main University library, which had been closed for renovations since early 2020. Most current students had never been inside until Monday.
UVA Today wasn’t up that bright and early to see the students in line, but photographer Matt Riley was able to capture this shot of a student taking advantage of one of the new study spaces. The renovations, designed by HBRA Architects, provide a host of new places to read, research and write, while preserving beloved spaces like the McGregor Room.
Charles Mathewes, the Carolyn M. Barbour Professor of Religious Studies at UVA, visited the library on reopening day with friends and colleagues.
“This is one of the places where you can really see one of UVA’s core aspirations, which is to be a place where people are learning all the time,” Mathewes said. “It’s wonderful.”
