Stairs Are Being Closed Off

The work on closing up the central stairway began today and in a Murphy's law kind of scenario the elevator quit working for a while. Thank goodness the stairway was still open and the elevator issue is being resolved. But, isn't that just the kind of thing you'd never wish to happen when closing off stairs access? There is a plan B when the stairs are closed off for anyone who doesn't wish to ride in the elevator. Staff will seek to get patrons to the second floor by another means just as we've been taking patrons on the service elevator for the past day or so.

In case anyone wonders, we have 3 pathways for emergency exit from the second floor so the closure of the central stairs is an inconvenience but not a safety concern.

We got the tentative 3-week schedule today and this week in addition to the stairs partition construction there will be a demo of the stairs. This is sure to be noisy so be advised! The drywall for the new group study rooms and computer lab is going up, too.

Next week we're expecting the installation of the steel for the new stairway and additional drywall and taping. Glass for doors and windows in the administration area should be installed by the end of next week, too.

The end of September will see the concrete poured for the stairway and drywall going into the stairway area. If all goes as planned, painting of the drywall put up this week and next will begin by the end of the month.

Just a reminder to any reader that the Main Library and branches will be closed on October 2nd so that staff can participate in an all-day training session. Last year over 100 of the 125 or so staff members were able to attend and this means an opportunity for staff to have a shared training and discussion experience. Workshop topics range from customer service to readers' advisory to safety at home and in the workplace.