The Heart of Campus

The Library at the Center of the Universe

By Wake Forest University

April 15^th, 2020

A redefinition in progress

Everyone has their own idea of what a library is. It includes books and periodicals and government documents and librarians urging quiet. Most people don't think of an academic library as a fun place, one in which they would want to spend a lot of their time.

Most people haven't been to the Z. Smith Reynolds Library.

In the time before the Internet roamed the Earth, a library was known as a place with books. Z. Smith Reynolds Library maintains that need, but it can't stop there. It is a nationally recognized hub of collaborative learning, a home to events celebrating writing and other forms of discovery, a community of study-skills specialists and more. And that, by the way, still includes about 2 million volumes.

Here you can do research, of course. There's always a research librarian available via chat, or text or email, or even live and in person at the Reference Desk.

You can also study by yourself on a quiet floor. If you and your group need to meet, you can reserve a study room in advance.

Study space in a stunning space

The first thing you notice inside the library is the six-story atrium between the original 1956 library and the Wilson Wing, added in 1991. The ceiling soars overhead, and six-story windows provide ever-changing light. It's a beautiful space and always popular with students.

Hitting the books...

While Wake Forest students are known for their individual diligence, our academic model is built on cooperation and collaboration. Facilities designed for group meetings combine with a helpful, expert staff to create an outstanding learning environment. Whether you prepare individually or want to chart an entire project on a giant whiteboard, ZSR has you covered.

...with a side of fun

Grab a nap in the Ziesta Room. Get your technology issues fixed in The Bridge. Take care of yourself during exam weeks with wellbeing programs featuring staff-made meals. Grab coffee with your friends in Starbucks. Listen to a concert of John Cage music. Make your own recordings in our One Button Studio. The choices are not quite as numerous as the books on the shelves, but they’re catching up.

Show your work...

Wake Forest undergraduates participate in research all over the world under the direction of our faculty, and they show their results every year at the Undergraduate Research Day in the library atrium. Undergraduate Research Day represents only a small slice of faculty-mentored research at Wake Forest, but it is the single biggest event of its kind on campus. Approximately one of every 10 graduates takes part in this celebration of collaboration at least once.

...And celebrate your success

ZSR hosts the annual Dean’s List Gala celebration, in which students are joined by their families for an evening recognizing their hard work and exemplary achievement. The library is the most appropriate venue for this event because its staff, resources and ingenuity are common to the stories of every honoree.

Landmark status

The cupola of ZSR is visible from all over the Wake Forest campus. A beacon for the hub of academic life, it has guided and inspired students for decades.