Click the image above to view her interview.

We are thrilled to announce the opening of Katherine’s Courtyard. Spanning two levels, this new addition has been designed to provide students, staff, and our community with additional study, relaxation, performance, and exhibition space.

The majority of the new Courtyard is outdoors, with first-floor access from Mom’s Café and the level-one book stacks. On level two there is a four-season enclosure that will be fully open to the outdoors in the warmer months, and closed with radiant floor heating in the winter. You can access level two through the Fine Arts & Architecture Library or next to the Reserve Desk. Additionally, both levels are connected through two sets of stairs in the courtyard itself.

As you walk through the space you’ll notice a wide variety of furniture, intended to accommodate many different uses in the space. There are small tables near the café for a quick bite or a smaller study session. Larger tables and benches on the east side are available for casual conversation or larger group study. Upstairs, you’ll find study tables as well as soon-to-arrive pedestals for the display of art or other three-dimensional work from our students and faculty.

Katherine’s Courtyard was made possible through a generous donation from Katherine Dumke prior to her passing.The gift has allowed the library to create a beautiful outdoor oasis for our community to enjoy. The Courtyard is open now, so please come and visit.

“We’ve designed Katherine’s Courtyard to be a place for our community to gather, work, and celebrate. As an outdoor extension of the K.W. Dumke Fine Arts & Architecture Library, the Courtyard continues our mission to facilitate creative expression and research within the arts. Therefore, we have established locations to exhibit creative work, study using library materials, and even host small performances and lectures. We hope that by opening this new space, we are inspiring our users to embrace and share their creativity in new ways and to new audiences.”

– Luke Leither, Assistant Head, Katherine W. Dumke Fine Arts & Architecture Library