SGA Instrumental in Plans to Open Coffee Shop in WVU Downtown Campus Library
Posted by Admin.October 13th, 2005
WVU New and information Services
New Release
October 13, 2005
CONTACT: Kristin Margolin, Student Government Association 304-550-2866
D.J. Casto, Student Government Association 304-293-4403
Sip on this. West Virginia University students and employees will soon be able to enjoy a latte at the library.
Plans are in place to construct a coffee shop, complete with Starbucks products and food items, in the bay window area on the fourth floor of the Downtown Campus Library.
Construction on Eliza’s is set to begin Nov. 1 and should be completed by mid-February, announced Student Body President D.J. Casto during Wednesday night’s (Oct. 12) student Board of Governors meeting in the Mountainlair.
“Since June, the Student Government Association has been working with the provost’s office, WVU administrators and library staff to create an area where students could enjoy a cup of coffee in the Downtown Campus Library,” said Casto, noting the shop is the initiative of BOG member Jon Jaraiedi. “The library is one of students’ favorite places to study and relax on campus. I think the addition of Eliza’s will be a welcome enhancement.”
The coffee shop is named after Eliza J. Skinner, the first professionally trained librarian at WVU who served as library director from 1897 until 1902, when she accepted a position with the Library of Congress. Her portrait and biography will be placed in a prominent location in the shop.
Casto said the area will be large enough to seat 45 people, feature café-style tables and chairs and blend into the library’s existing decor. Bookshelves will line some of the walls and house the current topics reading collection, and a limited number of newspapers may also be available for patron reading.
Hot and cold espresso drinks, freshly brewed gourmet coffee and tea, blended drinks to order, Italian sodas, hot chocolate, and bottled soft drinks, juice and water will be available for purchase.
Equipment and personnel are being provided by WVU Dining Services.
Eliza’s will also offer jumbo muffins, bagels, biscotti, oversized cookies and a variety of healthy snacks.
Students will be allowed to take drinks from the coffee shop into other areas of the library if they are in the proper container, Casto said.
Tentative hours are Sunday-Wednesday from 3 p.m.-midnight and Thursday from 3-9 p.m. The shop will be closed on Friday and Saturday.
jc/km/10/13/2005