The O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library will open its doors 7:30 a.m. Wednesday to the not-so-familiar smell of freshly brewing coffee.

With construction finally complete, Coffee Bené will open its independently run coffee shop on the first floor of the library.

The full-service coffee shop is the result of a partnership between the library and Coffee Bené. It serves espressos and lattes, and includes a pastry case with cookies and donuts.

Director of Libraries Dan Gjelten said he’s happy to see the results of an idea he’s been working on for more than five years.

“[The library] is increasingly becoming a community center on campus,” Gjelten said. “The response from the community here is incredible … I think they’re really going to like just the opportunity to have this coffee shop atmosphere.”

The shop will accept student’s Flex and eXpress dollars, and closing hours will be determined during the first few weeks of business.

Manager Molly Krueger said she hopes the shop is busy from the get-go.

“I think people are really excited, so I’m hoping that we’re really busy right away,” Krueger said. “It would be fun. It’d be a good way to kick it all off.”

Sophomore and Coffee Bené employee Karin Norby said she’s excited to serve coffee in a different environment.

“It’ll be the longest I’ve ever spent in the library,” Norby said. “It’s going to be a different atmosphere, definitely a lot quieter.”

Brent Fischer can be reached at bafischer@stthomas.edu.