Thanks to the generous support of the UCI School of Medicine and the UCI Medical Center, the UCI Libraries opened a 24/7 Research Lounge at the Grunigen Medical Library, located at the UC Irvine Medical Center. The Research Lounge provides a 24/7 study space for UCI’s health sciences students, residents, doctors, nurses, and researchers. Students, faculty, and staff may access the workstations in the Research Lounge to study, research, write, or recharge their minds and bodies with a power nap, by using one of the newly installed nap pods. Also included in the Research Lounge area, is the Forest J. and Dolores S. Grunigen Study Room, which is equipped for individuals or small groups to video conference with colleagues at any time, day or night.
The Libraries celebrated the opening of the Research Lounge on January 17, 2019. Lorelei Tanji, University Librarian, gave special recognition to Michael Stamos, M.D. dean of the UCI School of Medicine and Richard Gannotta, CEO of UCI Health System, for their commitment to improving the Grunigen Medical Library, which serves health sciences faculty, students, and staff. University Librarian Tanji also recognized Mrs. Delores Grunigen, library friend and supporter of the Forest J. Grunigen Medical Library, for her recent contribution to improve the Forest J. and Dolores S. Grunigen Study Room. 
Since its opening in January, the Research Lounge has received an overwhelming response and the number of visitors continues to greatly increase monthly. Irene Morris, Operations Manager at the Grunigen Medical Library, shared the following about the renovations, “At the Medical Center, the UCI Libraries has the unique challenge of supporting a community that relies on unrestricted access to information at all hours. The new Research Lounge and improvements to the Forest J. and Dolores S. Grunigen Study Room provide the tools and support for our patrons to excel at their transformative work when it is convenient for their schedule. Our visitors are thrilled with the improvements, and we are so grateful to our supporters for enabling us to further our mission.”
The UCI Libraries continue to play a vital role in UC Health’s Mission to “Discover. Teach. Heal.” through our collections, knowledgeable staff, librarians, and spaces.
For more information, please contact Cynthia Johnson, Head of Reference and the Grunigen Medical Library, cynthiaj@uci.edu