Just before the fall semester, Student Life announced the renovation of the second floor of St. John Paul II Library. Questions about the project have emerged from students who primarily study in the library. When will the renovations be completed? And what can students expect from the results?  

I sat down with library director Amy E. Leoni, MLIS, to learn about the renovation’s goals and motives.  

What started off as an initiative to improve heating and cooling and expand restrooms quickly “snowballed,” Leoni shared. When Franciscan received an incredible G.K. Chesterton Collection, plus a generous contribution from a devoted donor, plans were expanded. “(The plan) started out as just a nice display case for this collection,” Leoni said, “(but it) evolved into creating group study rooms and a G.K. Chesterton area.”  

In short, students should expect improved AC, upstairs bathrooms, three new group study rooms, a mezzanine-level open study space and a G.K. Chesterton reading room. These renovations are projected for completion by Fall 2027.  

The heart of this renovation is the G.K. Chesterton lounge. The lounge will function as the home for Franciscan’s new and extensive G.K. Chesterton Collection.  

The collection contains approximately 407 rare items including Chesterton’s first-edition publications, original drawings, and novels from his personal library, many of which contain his signature. Other rare books, including old Bibles and theological works from the library’s archives, will be displayed in the lounge.  

Additionally, the lounge will serve as a study space for students. Leoni excitedly shared that the lounge will express “an old school library kind of feel … with Chesterton charm.” The Chesterton Club, she added, “got input of what they wanted in the room (and) how they might be able to use it.” Future Chesterton Club meetings will likely be held in this space.  

Leoni believes that DrawCollective, an interior design company and Franciscan’s partner for the project, will do “a phenomenal job.” The lounge is expected to include wood paneling, built-in bookcases, a traditional rug and a glass door. The mezzanine area will incorporate carpeted stairs, spaces for artwork and signage and potentially a stained-glass window.  

Leoni recalled a 2019 survey in which Franciscan students were asked what they would add to the library. “Overwhelmingly, students at the time said better lighting, better printers and group study rooms,” Leoni explained. “Since then we’ve (added) the campus wide printing system and improved the lighting, (but) it’s not the best.”  

With the planned improvements and generous addition of the G.K. Chesterton Lounge, students will not only gain study spaces but also a whole new atmosphere.