More Than A Library

Guerrieri Academic Commons Again Named Among Nation’s Best Libraries

According to The Princeton Review, Salisbury University provides “everything a student needs to succeed” – and that includes one of the best college libraries in the nation.

Recognizing the stellar reputation of SU’s award-winning Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons for setting students up for success, The Princeton Review for the second time named the GAC among the top 25 best college libraries in the U.S. The facility is highlighted in the publication’s new 2023 edition of The Best 388 Colleges.

Much more than just a library, the GAC is considered the hub of SU academic life. Completed in 2016, the GAC is an innovative center for learning, discovery and interaction. It is where students go to study, receive academic assistance and meet up with friends at the café. The opportunities for academic and cultural enrichment are endless, from the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture which contains museum-quality historical archives to art exhibition spaces displaying the works of SU students.

While SU has ranked among The Princeton Review’s best colleges for more than two decades, student surveys and ratings are what earned the GAC its recognition. Students have noted that the campus works hard to make different opportunities available through its library – so no matter what their needs, there are a variety of options to study and learn.

With community and connections at its core, the GAC unites entities previously from across campus into one building. The facility houses not only a traditional library but a museum, archival, study and presentation space; computer labs and a 3-D printing “MakerLab”; an art exhibition space; academic resources including the Center for Student Achievement, SU Writing Center and Math Emporium; an honors classroom, a faculty center for collaboration and graduate student commons; and a coffee shop and café.

Students have called the GAC one of their favorite spots on campus. Whether looking for a quiet place to focus, browsing exhibits or grabbing a cup of coffee, it’s the perfect place for the campus community to envision their tomorrow.

Editor’s Note: Since the publication of this issue of The Sea Gull, the Princeton Review 2024 rankings place the Guerrieri Academic Commons among the top 10 college libraries.