One year after its dedication, the Donnelley and Lee Library has seen plenty of use. It is typically filled with students who converge on the Library to study and socialize. During those times when the building is not so full of students, the Library is host to a wide variety of campus events, including meetings, dinners, receptions, and symposiums. For example, the Board of Trustees has held its regular meetings in the Library. And after closing hours, Admissions held a sit-down dinner for counselors from international high schools.

A lovely view of trees and houses is clearly visible through Room 221’s eastward facing wall of windows. Far from the bustling Library atrium, various Board of Trustee committees meet in this room, such as Property and Operations, Budget and Finance, and the Executive Committee. Also this fall in Room 221, the Library hosted a reception for visiting Fulbright Scholar Dr. Khedija Arfaoui, who was able to make use of the media presentation equipment.

Other areas of the Library are more appropriate for different types of presentations. At the beginning of the 2005-06 academic year, administrators and faculty met the new faculty and chatted over dinner during a reception in the Reference Area. During Homecoming this year, the Rosemary Cowler Book Festival was held on the Lower Level, near the Special Collections displays. Faculty spoke about books they had published on a wide variety of topics, and a reading of faculty poetry was heard as well.