New Literacy Lounge: Book readings and creation of community

A new lounge has been dedicated to students and staff as a place to read, attend events and talk with other members of the community. Located in the Professional Studies Building room 102, the Literacy Lounge has taken the place of the former office area. 

Walking through the lounge, you are greeted with aesthetic and cozy decoration against a dimmed background. A neon “Literacy Lounge'' sign casts light on column bookshelves which stand in front of the rest of the decorated lounge’s hallway.

“The Literacy Lounge is both a destination to hang out and feel comfortable, but also a way to integrate what we’re doing in the classrooms,” said Dean of Education Tonia Dousay.

The idea for a new and welcoming space was kickstarted after staff in PSB room 102 had been moved numerous times.

The idea for the Literacy Lounge developed as Dousay was told the Provost would be moving into PSB 102, forcing other staff to move their offices once again.

Senior Operations Manager, Amanda Vredenburg explained that someone who worked in the space had moved six times in nine years.

Dousay shared “the concerns with the faculty and the general traumas that are still raw from moving” with the Provost and the idea for the lounge began to take shape.

The lounge has been active for around a month.

The Literacy Lounge was started from young readers books that were already available. “Knowing we had all of these books sitting in boxes and they were collecting dust, knowing that our students could be doing something purposeful connected to their learning experience and these books, the lounge presented itself as the solution,” explained Dousay.

“We can do things like have the students in a particular class get in groups, and based on whatever themed month it is, the students would curate a collection of children’s books around that topic, based on what we have available in the library.”

The lounge will also have a future ambassador program where student ambassadors may participate in setting up displays for curated collections.

The lounge has not only literary aspirations, but will include lab-like activities as well.

“Dr. Cathy Coulter is our language and literacy education faculty member and she researches literacy development. So she could run a workshop here for teachers, showing them how to apply certain techniques, and she could collect data on that experience,” said Dousay.

Dousay sees potential for involving UAA-run art and science camps with featured activities in the lounge.

Dousay is also planning Sunday read-aloud sessions where the public may be invited to join. Guest speakers are also on the table for the lounge’s activities.

The lounge might celebrate Banned Books Week in October with sessions where anyone can read from their favorite banned book – either on display in the lounge or brought from home.

“I've already put the chancellor and Provost on notice. We’re trying to nail it down but we’re going to have featured campus leaders. I’m going to invite every Dean, the Chancellor, the Provost, we’ll invite President Pittney, I’m also going to invite our school superintendent, if I can get Mat-su to come down, absolutely,” said Dousay.

With a new lounge comes new responsibilities and job openings. The lounge is currently looking for two new student workers this fall.