|
|
 |
| >Library Construction Home |  |
August 1, 2003
The Libraries remain on schedule to break
ground for the Library West addition in November 2003. Renovation of the
existing Library West building will begin in January 2004 and the entire
construction/renovation process is scheduled for completion in twenty-four
months. The new Library West will be a state-of-the-art facility featuring
compact shelving and a greatly increased number of comfortable patron study
areas. The library will feature a café and become a “gateway” presence to
the historic University of Florida campus.
The
first area to be impacted will be the Government Documents Department, now
located on the second floor of Library West. The department will permanently
move to the first floor of the Marston Science Library this October, and be
located next to the Map & Imagery Library, which is a component of the
department.
The anticipated two-year construction/renovation scenario is as follows:
Library
West will continue to function at the current level of service through the
end of this fall semester. In January, all Library West staff will be
relocated to other locations;
Service
points (reference and circulation) will be relocated to other library
locations. Library users will be able to receive almost all of the
services currently offered at Library West by going to Smathers Library
(Library East) or the Marston Science Library.
Library West collections will be relocated to a new off-site facility. They will be retrieved by library staff for patrons and will not be browsable during the two-year period. Retrieval from storage is expected to take 24 hours or less. Leaving the collections in Library West during renovation is not feasible because the conditions for the materials, staff, and users will be challenging -- noise, power interruptions, dust, and water interruptions.
The
parking lot behind Library West that faces University Avenue will
permanently close this November to make room for the addition.
The new expanded Library West will reopen in January 2005 with browsable collections, circulation and reference service points, enhanced computer facilities, group study rooms, and the return of staff offices.
Library
staff will provide as much support to patrons as is humanly possible during this
transition from the existing structure to the enlarged and greatly improved
Library West.
Spacesaver has been chosen as the compact shelving vendor for the new library. They were chosen on the basis of price, national reputation, excellent references, and superior options and safety features.
Check
this Web site for reliable and accurate information concerning the construction
and renovation.
| Thank you for your patience
as we work this summer toward completing this first phase of our plan to
improve library facilities. Updates on progress will be provided as needed.
Please send questions and comments to sshorb@mail.uflib.ufl.edu |
 |
|
|
Copyright (c)
1999-2003 University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries
|
