The Library and Learning Commons at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College has had its staff eliminated and it will shift away from the traditional lending model.

The space will be repurposed to meet the needs of students and the community, while remaining open to cater to those who use it for quiet study, computer use and the food pantry, officials said Thursday.

As a result, one staff member was relocated to the Gorham campus on Feb. 9 and another was notified that their position would be discontinued, but they can apply for a position within the university system.

The move is part of the University of Maine System’s way of redirecting limited resources where they are needed to be better utilized to support students, said Samantha Warren, spokesperson for the system.

“The university and our broader system remain deeply committed to LAC and the broader Lewiston-Auburn community, even as USM changes how library services are delivered there,” Warren said in a statement Thursday.

The Lewiston campus at 51 Westminster St. offers varying levels of degrees, including two four-year programs, two graduate-level degrees and a doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Some students from the University of Maine at Augusta attend the Lewiston campus, as well.

In recent months, the UMaine system has laid off several employees, including those at USM, given the realities of revenue and enrollment trends. USM has campuses in Portland, Gorham and Lewiston and is part of the UMaine System.

Forty-six students are enrolled in USM’s in-person courses delivered at LAC this spring.

The two employees at the Lewiston campus library were the only two librarians working there, said Marissa Bodnar, spokesperson for the University of Southern Maine.

In 2025, fewer than three items were checked out on a weekly basis at the library and there were fewer than a dozen requests for research assistance from the on-site librarian all year.

“While students do use the building, this data indicate that they are relying almost entirely on digital tools for research,” Bodnar said.

Bodnar said university leaders are looking to use the space as a cultural and community hub to host public events, workshops, lectures and programming from USM’s Franco-American Collection, which is housed in the campus’s library.

“Starting this month, the dean of libraries will collaborate with the Franco-American Collection Board and program leadership to honor the historical roots of the library, while ensuring the space continues to meet student and community needs,” Bodnar said.

Bodnar said the library’s books will be removed and taken to Portland and Gorham campuses.

Hours at the library will remain the same and the food pantry will remain open. Digital resources will continue to be offered online 24/7 for all USM students.