LEWISTON — Bates College is making the move away from its classic mailroom to an upgraded Mail and Package Center in the first floor of the new residence hall on Central Avenue.

For most schools, this wouldn’t seem like a huge change. But for Bates, the mailroom has been an iconic location for over 60 years.

Director of Office Services Laurie Henderson and Bates Spokesman Kent Fischer are taking the lead on the change.

“We’ve had 800 mailboxes since the ’60s, and we had shared mailboxes,” Henderson said. “People met their box mate that they wouldn’t have otherwise met. We’re hoping this new center will be a gathering place, where people can form connections in a different way.”

“Everything now is package-driven,” Fischer said. “Nobody gets actual mail anymore.” 

In the years 2005 to 2009, there was a big shift from mail to packages.

On campus, it rose from 5 to 14 percent each year, which in real numbers means 37,000 packages in the last school year for their 2,000 students.

“As packages were exploding for us, we couldn’t stay in the mailroom, so we made a makeshift package center in 2009 in Chase Hall,” Henderson said. 

They’ve moved from a real mailbox to a virtual one, where students receive an email anytime they’ve received a package or mail. Most students only pick up their packages.

Henderson joked about the buildup of mail.

“We still have mailboxes with fliers to vote for Ben Chin,” Henderson said. “That’s how little they check it.”

With the growth continuing to rise, Henderson realized that the current package room is just too small.

“We get some big shipments, and a lot of them,” Henderson said. “Snow tires, mattresses, futons, cases of water.”

Right now, Henderson’s operation is spread across three locations on campus: a 315-square-foot post office, 880-square-foot makeshift package center, and a 2,000-square-foot office and printing space.

With the change, all of the space will be consolidated and centralized on campus.

“It will be a huge jump in efficiency,” Henderson said. “It’ll be a one-stop shop. It will be much more efficient for the students and the staff.”

Especially with the college store moving to the same place.

Chandler Ryan, a first-year student and mailroom employee, said she enjoys her job and is excited about the change.

“I think it’s more convenient, because people will actually check their mail now,” she said. “When I go now to fill the boxes, they’re usually pretty full.

“I get to interact with a lot of people,” Ryan said. “It’s fun.”

As far as Ryan is concerned, she doesn’t get a lot of packages.

“Freshmen don’t usually get as much,” she said. “But I do have this friend — she comes in almost every day to get a package.”

Jonathan Pelz, a senior student graduating in May, is witness to the shift and growth of packages. He’s been working in the mailroom all four years, along with his twin brother.

His favorite part of the job?

“I like seeing people smile when they get a package they’ve been waiting for,” he said.

He is also excited for the school to get an upgrade from the small mailroom.

“It’s a small space — all those packages in here — it’s just not feasible,” he said. “We outgrew this.”

The new facility, which will also be available to the public, will be open and fully functional in August.

“We’re on schedule and on budget,” Fischer said.