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Library Renovation Update: Interim II

Posted February 28, 2006

Phase One of the new Library Building project is almost complete. Construction is finished, and technology, furniture and shelving will be installed over the next several weeks. The first building occupants, Communications and Advancement, will move in during March. The Library will wait to move until after all spring semester classes are over, so that we can maintain consistent services during a busy time in the academic year. The entire new building, including all classrooms and meeting spaces, will be open and fully operational for summer 2006.

The next phase of the renovation project includes vacating and gut renovating the existing 5 story Lefavour Hall building. This work will occur from June 2006 - June 2007. By summer 2007 the entire project - and new Library - will be completed!

During this second phase of the project, the Library will provide services in reduced space in the new building. Currently we have about 74,000 books offsite. It is necessary to move an additional 50,000 books to temporary offsite storage, leaving 85,000 of the most current and heavily used books physically here on campus. An additional 25% of the print periodical collection will also be moved offsite for Interim II. We will continue to provide recall and delivery services for all materials housed offsite through the ‘request’ option in the online library catalog. The recall system currently in place has been very effective over the past year, and we are confident we can continue to meet demands for accessing any materials that are temporarily in storage in a timely fashion. Due to the limited space in this second phase of construction, the Library will also have to house some staff in temporary quarters in the MCB. All staff remain committed to providing the highest level of service possible.

Specific Library Move Timeline for Spring ‘06:

*March 2 – 10: during Spring Break, selected books & periodicals moved offsite

*Late March/early April: Archives & Library Technical Services staff move into temporary space in the East Wing that will be vacated by Advancement staff

*May 9 – 16: Remaining book and periodical collections moved offsite or into the new building; Library staff moves into the new building

*May 17: Library and the Information Commons will be closed; Lefavour building closed to the community

*May 18: Library services (Interim II) and limited computer access open in the new building

*May 30: Full Information Common technology services open in the new building

Please let me know if you have any questions, daphne.harrington@simmons.edu We thank you for your continued support and patience. The new library will be here before we know it!

 

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