Hunterdon Central’s one-and-only instructional media center, or “IMC”, has undergone many changes over the past few months. It will not only accommodate COVID restrictions but will also introduce new ways to learn and become involved.

Phase one of the new version of the IMC becomes available to staff and students on Monday, November 23, while phase two is expected to begin construction this June, according to Ms. Cangelosi-Hade.

PHASE ONE: What can you expect now?

“A launchpad for innovation” is how Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Ms. Jessica Cangelosi-Hade, described the new and improved IMC. Over many months of reconstruction, the IMC has changed and evolved in numerous ways, with the goal of aiding students and staff alike. The IMC has not seen such efforts of remodeling in almost fifteen years. 

“There is a push at this point to start using the newest technologies,” Ms. Jane Armellino, Supervisor of IMC Librarians, said. “Things have changed over the past fifteen years, there are different technologies to expose students to. The IMC will now be the central hub to these new technologies.”

The past several months of reconstruction have been dedicated solely towards phase one of the process, including a new hub technicians area, an updated classroom area in both the front and back of the building and the remodeled Makerspace.

“The biggest new thing that we have that I consider to be key is the remodeled Makerspace.” Ms. Armellino said. During the modernizing and remodeling, the Makerspace that students have familiarized themselves with in the past has now been moved to the front of the IMC. The Makerspace has been updated to offer new technologies such as 3D virtual goggles, new 3D printers, as well as a more clean and modern feel. 

Perhaps one of the more convenience-driven decisions was to provide the Central hub with its own designated area. In turn, students will be able to easily ask for help, along with what hub technician Ms. Morano describes as, “a nice new bright space with lots of storage.” It too was updated with a sleek design to complement the rest of the swiftly changing IMC. 

As many students have come to realize, the Central Hub has taken a temporary space in the ticket booth of the 9/10 building. For many, this is a tedious walk which takes a lot of valuable time from learning. Thankfully this move was only temporary. Upperclassmen remember the Central Hub as being stationed in the IMC with no exact office of its own.

Senior Technical Analyst Ms. Hillary Morano describes the new Hub station as a “genius table.” “It’s the first time in ten years that they’ve had their own designated space,” she said.

This is an important factor to the Central Hub workers as they describe their hardest challenge was having enough space. Ms. Morano describes the move to the ticket booth as “kind of like moving into a college dorm room”– the area was temporary but small. 

The Central Hub will be easy to find in its previous place by the color printer but will gain a bright new addition with much more storage.

PHASE TWO: What is still to come?

One of the new additions for the students to utilize in the IMC during phase two is going to be a small cafe. The IMC has never had anything like this and even had a rule that eating in the IMC was not permitted until this new remodel.

At this point, food is planned to be allowed in the new cafe area once it opens in the fall. Hardwood floors will be installed in that area instead of carpet to make any cleanup easier.

“I’m not sure what is set in stone versus what is still flexible, but that is what I know to be true at this point in time,” Librarian Ms. Denise Spina said.