| |
Vol. 3, No. 2 Spring 2006
Building Project
John McGinty, Library Director
John Breitmeyer, Reference Librarian
The long anticipated construction phase of the library building project is close at hand!
Construction commences this July. The addition will be framed out during the first phase of the project,
along with general infrastructure work on the electricity and plumbing, which will continue throughout
2006 and into the spring of 2007. Each floor, both existing building and addition, will then be renovated
and fitted out in turn. The phasing schedule follows current usage patterns:
- main level, May through October 2007
- lower level, November 2007 through April 2008
- second level, May through October 2008
- third level, November 2008 through April 2009
The important thing for patrons of the library to know is that the library will be operational
throughout its renovation. The main entrance to the library will be moved to the east side of the
building and will be accessible to all patrons according to ADA guidelines. Certain areas will be
closed off at various times during construction, but library staff will maintain patron access to
every book, journal, media item, or electronic resource regardless of any apparent physical barriers
imposed by the construction process. Some materials will be moved off-site and will be available
through a daily courier system or by e-mail within a few hours. Parking will be maintained as usual.
The library may need to close for one or two days during construction, but these occasions will be
scheduled for weekends or break periods whenever possible. Interruptions of electronic access due to
renovation are not expected to occur at all. The library website will keep patrons informed of daily
changes in building operations.
The renovated building will include expanded stack capacity, more comfortable seating, more group
study space, an exhibition gallery and cyber cafe, an auditorium, several advanced technology spaces with
new equipment for scholarly use, and generally a complete upgrade in the infrastructure of the building.
When the finishing touches are completed, the Loyola and Notre Dame communities will have a more
attractive, comfortable, and expanded modern library to call their own.
|
