The University of St. Thomas Houston is re-imagining the Doherty Library as the central academic and community hub of campus, based on the vision of Dean of Libraries and MAX Innovation Award honoree Jim PIccininni.

Piccininni's ideas, which have been interpreted from student input, call for expanding the library to allow for more study and collaborative spaces, an internet café and more room for campus tutoring, a release issued on the university's website said.

“With the subsequent recarpeting and new furniture for the cleared floors, we will create more study space where students also can access their remotely taught classes conveniently and comfortably," Piccininni said in the release. "This renovation proactively addresses student needs and dovetails with our vision for the library to foster connection and better academic success." 

The vision would also see that books are rehoused to solve the nagging Wi-Fi problem in the library. 

“Our UST Information Technology experts have advised that book stacks play havoc with Wi-Fi,” Piccininni said. “After their relocation, our signal will be highly reliable.”

Currently, the library is offering online services, with books-to-go being available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.