Following live music and a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, students, faculty and staff filed in to explore D.H. Hill’s newly renovated East Wing.

The project, which has been in the works since July 2005, includes a learning commons, exhibit hall and a reading room.

Kate Scanlan said she discovered the open wing when she arrived at the library to take a nap.

“It’s amazing,” Scanlan, a sophomore in business management, said. “It’s a really big upgrade compared to the rest of the library.”

The ribbon cutting, along with live music, giveaways, games and more were all designed to encourage students to come into the wing, according to Jeanne Hammer, assistant director for capital management and external relations for NCSU Libraries.

Winner of a $50 gift card Kevin Nance, a junior in chemical engineering, said he entered the library’s drawing when he saw a sign outside of the building advertising the new wing.

“I was amazed when I came in here,” he said.

Hammer said she expected students to explore the space initially, and really start utilizing the facilities later this week.

“The exciting thing about it is — I’m not sure how [the new space] is going to be used,” Joe Williams, director of the Learning Commons, said.

Among the Learning Commons’ features, Williams noted the convenience of e-Boards, plasma screens, new furniture and rooms for students to practice presentations.

“It all looks really modern and clean,” Scanlan said.

Jaclyn Sappah, a library employee and junior in psychology, said she decided to work in the East Wing’s reading room because she wanted an on-campus job and spends a lot of time in the library.

She said the room’s collection features rare books, older books, photos, yearbooks, archives and manuscripts.

“I will be monitoring the reading room and taking requests for special collections books,” she said.

Danielle Speller, a senior in physics, said the novelty of the reading room will be part of its appeal.

“It’s nice to study in a nice atmosphere,” she said.

Speller said she liked the spacious room and its furniture.

“This seems like a place where you can come study and admire the woodwork,” she said.

Susan Nutter, vice provost and director of libraries, said her original vision for the East Wing has been fulfilled.

She said she hopes students will frequent the new facilities and expects a 40 percent increase in use from before renovations.

While she said the wing is “not quite finished,” she did not want to delay the opening any further.

“We didn’t want students to graduate and not get a chance to use the space,” she said.

Terry Crow, director of publications, said she hoped students would come in and “test drive” the facilities.

“It’s their space and we want them to come use it,” she said. “They’ve waited long enough.”

With the East Wing in use, Nutter said the similar concepts used for the renovations will be applied to other parts of D.H. Hill.

She said lighting is beneficial in the library, among other things.

“[In the East Wing], I like the color, the ease of collaboration, the variety of seating, access to computers and the open light feeling we didn’t have before,” she said.

Also, Nutter said with the construction of a $114 million library on Centennial Campus for science and engineering, D.H. Hill will focus on providing services for CHASS, among other colleges.

She said optimistically, plans for the new library will be in place by 2010.

“If we can get those resources, we will really do something,” she said.

Grand opening festivities will continue for the East Wing for the duration of this week, with grand prizes including a video iPod and airline tickets.