Emanuel Vendrell traveled just under 2,000 miles to attend the University of Dayton. Away from his home of Puerto Rico, he’s found what he now calls his second home — Roesch Library.
After securing a Flyer Promise scholarship during his education at a Marianist high school, Vendrell toured UD and knew it was the right choice. “I love it here at UD, and I love it here at Roesch,” Vendrell said. “I’m here all the time.”
Working the closing shift at the information desk every Wednesday and Thursday, Vendrell works from a place of caring protection, both for the library and for its students.
“It’s guarding in a sense. There’s no one else here to see who enters, who leaves,” he said. “I think it’s a big role in the University, ’cause it’s the home to a lot of UD students who study here every day.”
“A lot of students” might be an understatement — the library reports over 394,000 annual visits. Thanks to One Day, One Dayton donations to the Libraries Dean’s Fund for Excellence, furniture on the fourth floor — aptly known as “the conversational floor” — is being replaced with modern, flexible pieces to better fit today’s needs. These changes encourage not only studying, but also student connections.
Those connections are a bright spot in Vendrell’s shifts. “I’m a really social person; I like to talk. Someone comes up to ask me a question, and it turns into a conversation,” Vendrell said. “That joy in them makes me appreciate our work here.”
While he is tasked with answering student questions, reserving rooms and signing out books, Vendrell is still a student and no stranger to studying. In July, his studies will continue as he plans to take the MCAT in pursuit of his dream of going to medical school. He asked to extend his position through the summer, giving him more time in the building he loves — and moving him a step closer to his dream.
“Working, studying, preparing myself for the MCAT and using those resources the library gives me is really, really helpful,” he said. “This place has formed a second home for me.”