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James Branch Cabell Library is the busiest academic library in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the physical center of the Monroe Park Campus, it has 2 million visitors a year.

James Branch Cabell Library is the busiest academic library in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the physical center of the Monroe Park Campus, it has 2 million visitors a year.
In peak study months of October and April, more than a quarter of a million people use the building each month.

In peak study months of October and April, nearly a quarter of a million people use the building each month. Many stay into the wee hours.

In the 2012-13 academic year, 35,000 people used the library 2 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

In the 2012-13 academic year, 35,000 people used the library 2 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

The building, constructed in 1970 and expanded to its current five floors in 1975, was designed to serve 17,000 students. Enrollment today hovers around 32,000.

The building, constructed in 1970 and expanded to its current five floors in 1975, was designed to serve 17,000 students. Enrollment today hovers around 32,000.

Over 10 years, Cabell’s visitor count has doubled. In 2002-03, 1 million people entered the building. In 2012-13, Cabell saw 2 million visitors.

Over 10 years, Cabell’s visitor count has doubled. In 2002-03, 1 million people entered the building. In 2012-13, Cabell saw 2 million visitors.

Public computers are in high demand on the first floor. Many days, students have to wait to get a desk with a computer.

Although laptops are a popular loan item, public computers are in high demand on the first floor. Many days, students have to wait to get a desk with a computer.

Most of the year, cabell is open Sunday 10 a.m. to Friday 10 p.m., around-the-clock. Many days, there are not enough seats.

Most of the year, Cabell is open Sunday 10 a.m. to Friday 10 p.m., around-the-clock. Many days, there are not enough seats.

Today’s libraries are built for collaborative work as well as quiet study.

Today’s libraries are built for collaborative work as well as quiet study.

Group Study rooms are in high demand and Cabell needs more. These rooms, which can be reserved in advance online, are used by more than 110,000 students each year. Many days, all 29 study rooms are booked and in use.

Group Study rooms are in high demand and Cabell needs more. These rooms, which can be reserved in advance online, are used by more than 110,000 students each year. Many days, all 29 study rooms are booked and in use.

Students pack the second floor’s 13,000 square feet of group and individual study areas, café-like booths, and open spaces. The new building will offer even more essential work space.

Students pack the second floor’s 13,000 square feet of group and individual study areas, café-like booths, and open spaces. The new building will offer even more essential work space.

Research about users’ needs repeatedly indicates faculty and graduate students need more quiet spaces to support in-depth work. The new library will offer a new reading room with inspirational views and quiet ambiance for grad students.

Research about users’ needs repeatedly indicates faculty and graduate students need more quiet spaces to support in-depth work. The new library will offer a new reading room with inspirational views and quiet ambiance for grad students.

More than 90 percent of the new building will be dedicated to space for students and faculty.

More than 90 percent of the new building will be dedicated to space for students and faculty.

Project Need

Cabell Library's 38-year-old building has not kept pace with VCU's enrollment growth or with the growing diversity of academic work spaces needed by traditional and online students. The university has not added library space since Cabell opened in 1975.

Partly, it is a matter of space. Within Virginia, VCU provides the least amount of library space per student of any public academic institution in the Commonwealth. In a study of peer institutions, VCU ranked lowest in the amount of study space:

  • 31 percent below the average space provided by all institutions and;
  • 92 percent below the average of its peers in group study space.

But even more, the kind of space and support that contemporary academic work life requires is out of reach in the existing building. Adding new academic work space designed for the digital, collaborative, actively-engaged world of VCU today will place the University at the competitive leading edge of research universities in the Commonwealth and beyond. More on meeting student needs and stewardship