We can tell what the weather is doing!

Wow! Since last week, we have been able to see the outside world, including the weather, from our circulation desk. This is something that has never happened in this library. The new tinted glass windows in the amphitheatre are wonderful. Big Horn Basin Glass has completed the north wall and is currently working on the west wall.

Inside the building, there is much happening. The entire book collection (probably 35,000 volumes) is now located in the new addition at the southwest end. The moving company (Carney & McNichols) did a tremendous job relocating the shelving and books in just two days. The library staff is currently "reading the shelves" to make sure the books are where they are supposed to be, but it looks like the movers kept them in nearly perfect order. This company specializes in moving libraries and they are truly professionals. We would recommend them to another library needing such services in a heartbeat. It was a great relief to not move those books ourselves.

The new library classroom, archives, and group study room in the north part of the building are taking shape. Sheetrock is up so we can see what the space will look like.

Work continues on the less-exciting aspects of this job - heating/cooling system upgrades, computer networking, electricity, etc. We never know where the workers will need to be next. Each of us has been displaced from our offices/work spaces on any number of occasions, while someone works in our ceiling...

The concrete between the library and Orendorff Hall has been removed in anticipation for the landscaping work. This area will be a courtyard/walkway and should be a big improvement over the former site.

Rockin' and Rollin'

As our construction manager said last week, we are "rockin' and rollin'." With the end of the semester, Groathouse and all the subcontractors have kicked the renovation into high gear.

While we were closed between graduation and the beginning of summer school, several things happened:

1. Lights from the older part of second floor were moved to the new second floor addition.
2. The amphitheatre ceiling and walls were reinforced to accommodate the weight of the second floor and the wind stress with new glass windows.
3. Second floor, including the new tutoring center, was painted.
4. The Kalwall on the north amphitheatre wall was removed. Framing for the new glass wall was installed.
5. Second floor public area was carpeted.
6. Many behind-the-scenes projects were completed.

This week, glass is being installed in the amphitheatre wall. Once this is done, we will be able to see the outside from the circulation desk for the first time in history.

In addition, a professional library moving company is moving the entire book and government documents collections from the existing building to the new addition. They have very large book carts that hold lots of books and keep them in good order. Once they unload a range of books, they slide the range on teflon pads to the new location. Then, they reconfigure the book shelving to the right size and reload the shelves. Sounds like a lot of work and it is. With five people working, they are moving fast, however.

The main floor of the library is open for students to use, but the second floor is currently off-limits because so much work is happening up there. If someone needs an item from the second floor, one of the library staff members will retrieve it for them.

Susan