Getting the "Lower Level" ready

By the end of today, most of the shelving will be gone from the basement, with the final removal of shelving and furniture expected to occur on Monday.  Other related news, the contractor has been selected and a "Kick-off" meeting will be scheduled within the next week.  If you haven't ventured down for a look this is what is going on:

The Shelving is being disassembled

And loaded into dumpsters for recycling

That's a full load!

This is how our space is starting to look:

Don't forget the Wednesday afternoon Ice Cream Celebration for everyone, more details to come.



Researcher's Room

In case you haven't been in there, here are a couple of shots of the new Researcher's Room, which was created in the space that was formerly the staff office space, adjacent to the Hodges Reading Room.  This was a feature of a poster at this week's SNCA conference (manned by Hermann) demonstrating that an assessment conducted earlier in the renovation project reveal the need for larger space for researchers/classes, and as you can see it has proven to be popular.

Photos by Erin Lawrimore

April 4th Ice Cream Celebration

Starting at 2:30 in April 4th, we will celebrate the accomplishment of clearing the lower level with an Ice Cream Sundae event:

This is an open invitation for all library faculty, staff and students to have a treat and feel accomplished in the achievement of clearing the lower level, a long term and complex process.  Please put this on your calendars and plan to join us then, THANKS!

Shelves are Emply, what's next?

OK, the shelves in the basement/lower level are now empty, thanks to a lot of hard work and effort by many many folks.  Please see other post for celebration details.  Back to the shelves, in case you haven't seen:

So what's next becomes next week and Griffin will be here starting on Monday (26th) to remove the remaining shelves and on Friday (30th), City Transfer will be here to remove any remaining furniture.  This will include a surplus run so if you have any surplus items please get them down to the basement.
Once the space is completely cleaned out we will have a celebration to recognized everyone's hard work, see other post.

The week after Easter (starting the 9th) we will see some contractor activity start up and there will be a 5 to 6 week window on construction/remodeling.  This includes running electrical and data, paint and carpet and misc adjustments.  Then the furniture will be installed in late May.  This is a photo of the map and color scheme for the furniture which will be housed outside of Joe's office on Monday:

Thanks again and see next post for details on the Ice Cream Celebration!

Wrapping up the week

As we wrap up the week a couple of new photos and notes of progress.  This morning was the pre-bid meeting with the designer and potential contractors:

This means they will be bidding on the project and one of them will be selected to begin work the first week of April.  The construction part of the project is expected to last four weeks before the furniture install begins.

In preparation for the work we are now moving R's to the ninth floor.  Here are some of our students who are helping out on this project:

And look what they are accomplishing:

Thanks everyone for a very productive week, Happy Spring.

Progress Report for Spring Break week

We had a very productive week and I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to move this project forward this week.  We made some office moves, moving Lynda next to Nancy and bring Susan up from the basement to Lynda's old office and we removed two more loads of surplus. 

The basement is really emptying out as needed:

Per Ann's update, next week we will have the movers again and the journals in the basement identified for Ferguson will move and after the T's are finished we will start moving R's to 9.  The use of the wooden carts have helped greatly,moving these large books and bindings.

The movers and students helping us have done a great job:

Not to mention some of our own familiar faces who are making sure Ferguson is set up correctly:

This is a shot down a completed aisle in Ferguson, very neat, in order and tightly packed, a great effort by many hands:

And also as Ann mentioned, this is a shot of Thesis & Dissertations moving in behind Gov Docs, we hope they make a lovely couple:

Thanks again for a great week of a lot of hard work and determined effort.
mc

Spring Break on the Lower Level

You've seen the blogs and info regrading the Digital Media Center for the Lower Level, a lot will be happening down there in the next couple of weeks and this is the beginning.  Last week we continued to move out surplus and some empty shelving as well as relocate the microfilm cabinets centrally within the hallway between the two doors.  This will be their home during construction:

The one side will form a barrier for the work to be done on the north side and a runner has been ordered to cover the floor in the middle.

This is the space in the north west corner behind the new stairwell:

It is not completely cleaned out yet but getting close.  And this is the view from in front of the old loading dock area:

It's exciting to see the natural light and image how this space will look much different by summer.  Stay tuned for more updates, City Transfer will be here again on Wednesday for more.
mc