Image is a digital drawing of the lobby of Cook Library. The lobby has white floors and two large white columns on the left and the right. The ceiling is a light brown wooden ceiling. Next to the right column is a wooden desk with a white counter and a person behind the counter and one standing in front of the counter. On the far left side is a long high table with tall chairs and three people sitting and standing around the table. To the close right of that are two arm chairs with one person sitting. Inside the left column are three elevator doors with three people standing. Beyond the elevators are two sets of wood frame doors with glass. Across the bottom is the text Cook Library Renovation.

Renovations to Joseph Anderson Cook Library began in June of 2019 and will be ongoing through 2021. The project includes the replacement of the roof, updates to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and remodeling of study spaces on the first and second floors.

Included in this project is the addition of the Bower Academic Center, which will house the Student-Athlete Academic Center. The Bower Center serves Southern Miss’s nearly 350 student-athletes, and although its primary audience is athletes, many of the amenities will be available for use to students of all disciplines during certain times. This will increase the number of available study rooms.

The Academic Advisement Center is also part of this project and will provide academic support services for students that include selecting or changing majors and class scheduling.