Students set up cafe for new library books

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Students at Rincon and University High Schools who are in the library club are taking concerns over the library into their own hands.

What started off as just an idea and an unused part of the library, has turned into the "Common Grounds," a cafe run by students.

The money from the drinks goes straight to new books, as well as making the library a more welcoming place for students.

"We have this amazing huge space and not many people are taking advantage of it. and we just wanted to make it nicer and a place to study and get work done and just a place to be," said Cole Sohn, a sophomore at UHS.

"We want to get best-selling books that people want to read a lot of. And so the money is going to that and to help restock it so that we can keep it going," said Muriel Makus, a senior at RHS.

The cafe didn't come without hard work for the students.

Sohn said he spoke with a lot people to get approval to get the project started.

He said the support from the staff, students and the generous donations have made the process a little bit easier.

The cafe is open before and after school three days a week, but students said they plan on adding more days to the list.

Makus, along with some of the others in the library club, are seniors.

She said they probably won't be around when these new books come in, but said she's happy to leave behind something for other students.

"I know a lot of underclassmen who will enjoy it and they will continue it. I want to see how it will grow. So if I come back after I get my bachelor's degree and see how it [has] changed," Makus said.