The public is invited to a celebration of West Virginia University’s founding Feb. 7, 1867, and renovations to the WVU Evansdale Library, combined this year into an event at the library, which recently enjoyed extensive upgrades. The Monday, Feb. 7, event begins at 1 p.m.

Historical displays of WVU and the University Libraries will be available. Speakers are President David C. Hardesty Jr., Provost Gerald Lang, Libraries Dean Frances O’Brien and Evansdale Library Director Jo Ann Calzonetti. Refreshments, including birthday cake, will be served.

Dr. O-Brien said the Evansdale Library, completed in 1980, was”very nice for that era.”In today’s high-tech information age, however, an overhaul was required. After more than $1 million in renovations, the library is not only more pleasing to be in, but also is equipped with 21st century electronic information systems.

Combining the rededication with WVU ’s anniversary will celebrate this move forward and will reflect the University’s goals of providing improved research and education facilities, the dean said.

While work progresses on the Wise library addition downtown, the Evansdale Library already offers a new 30-workstation electronic classroom with audio-visual capabilities and expanded public computer access with 26 workstations. Also, patrons have access to 20 wireless laptop computers with word processing and spreadsheet software.

Also, Ethernet connections are available where patrons can use their own laptop computers within easy reach of library resources.

“It’s the same building”, Calzonetti said,”but it really is a different library. We’ve even gotten rid of the 1970s colors, which most patrons found to be not conducive to research and study. The renovations have changed the way students work and professors teach.”