The Palatine High School Media Center will finally open to students at the start of second semester. The long two year wait has paid off with an exceptional area of study and gathering.

Access is huge for students, it used to not be very accessible, librarian Liz Broemmelsiek said. There are collaborative areas for groups and quiet areas for solo study.

The Student Success Center has moved from the first floor to a room right next to the media center and has direct access.

Separate study rooms have been created for groups that need an area away from the public. These rooms will be able to be checked out for a certain time of the day. They will be a great place to host small club gatherings and meetings.

There is a small cafe that will allow students who are working during their lunch periods or after school to get something to eat while they are studying. “It is going to be a great place to hang out with friends.” Elliot Willming, a junior, said.

In the center of the media center is the information and help desks for the librarians and technology staff. Charging stands are also set up in the middle for easy access.

Windows were installed overlooking the cafeteria to bring in more light.

“The lighting is huge compared to the old lighting,” librarian Joanna Metzger said. “The lighting is bright and lets people know that this is a nice place.”

The old media center dated back to when the building was built in 1972. The carpeting and lighting was from then also. The size of the media center shrank since computer labs were built into it for the english department. The lighting used to be orange and somewhat dim. It was in well need of renovations, and so that is exactly what happened.