Flurry Of Activity With Renovation Projects Today

Suddenly today there are many elements of the renovation project coming together. Mill work is being installed in a couple of workrooms and so the character of each room is slowly taking shape. Storage and work surfaces are so key in any workroom and it is great to see counters, shelves and closed cupboards in place. The counters in the shared workroom are designed so that book carts can be stored under them. This arrangement will be very efficient.

One time when I was working on a design process for a workroom we were struggling about what to do for storage of all the book carts that are needed to carry out daily work. A staff member wished out loud that we could design in-ground or basement storage of book carts whereby the carts would stack on top of each other and could pop out one at a time rather like a PEZ dispenser!! We all thought that was a wonderful idea but so far I'm not aware of any engineer who has figured out how to accomplish this marvelous storage method.

Cable for computers is also being installed today. Adequate cabling is a must to support the level of computer use that is found in library operations these days. So, while it's not as intriguing to see as the more visible structures, we are really pleased to observe the extensive cable placement going on about us.

Patrons might begin to see more and more evidence of renovation activities going forward. The Corian top has been removed from the map case near the Board Room because it is being repurposed as a counter top in the staff lounge, replacing the very worn laminate that has already been removed from the lounge. The lounge is really torn up right now, but staff will surely appreciate the renovated kitchenette which prior to this project was still the original that was in place when the building opened in 1993.

Some side pieces of the stairwell have also been removed. The central stairway replacement is in my mind one of the greatest improvements included in the renovation project. We look forward to the open feel and look which will contribute to much better functionality.

Since my last post just a few small pieces of the project have been accomplished so it was especially good to see all that took place today. Next week - painting and flooring and with any luck some furnishings will be evident in staff spaces. We look forward to the completion of phase 1 so that work in public spaces can begin.