August 29, 2025–$2.5 million in renovations to the main floor of the Missouri Western State University library will be showcased in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 on the second floor of the Hearnes Center on the MoWest campus.
“The library is now a more bright and welcoming place,” said Sally Gibson, library director. “I want students to walk in, immediately feel welcome, and think this is a place for me.”
Library improvements included expanding student study space by reducing the footprint of the staff workspace and offices. With more library resources and materials available online, the need for space to house materials or process print materials has been reduced. This created an opportunity to expand the amount of space dedicated to students.
The new spaces include a 24-hour study space, a model classroom, a fireplace lounge and group and individual study rooms. A door to the Center for Academic Support has been added inside the library, so that students can enter directly from the library.
The initial response from students and faculty has been overwhelmingly positive. More than 1,000 students have visited in the first week of the fall semester. Some feedback the library has received from students:
- “So welcoming!”
- “Very spacious!”
- “24-hour room is awesome for commuters!”
- “Super cute and cozy!”
- “Fireplace is pretty sweet!”
- “Very vibey!”
- “Worth the year of construction!”
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.