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.

Renovation Continues

Detail work continues on the back-of-house renovations. Electrical work and cabling are moving along. Furniture is set to be assembled during the last week of July so that phase two, which includes the public areas, looks like it'll be on track to begin the second week in August. We're looking forward to completion of the small bit of work being done in the AV room. That space is shaping up. Floor coverings are set to go in workrooms and other spaces as well. It'll be great when the concrete floors are covered up again.

Thanks to those who have posted the 3 comments to my blog so far. I would really like to hear from anyone who has a question or comment about the renovation or the libray in general.

There are a few weeks left to participate in the Summer Reading Program. There is still an opportunity to earn the T-shirt prize. So finish up those books and come by for a visit. If you're planning an upcoming vacation think about the Library for stocking up on books, magazines, music and recorded books. We have a lot of choices!

Week 3 of Renovation Comes to a Close

There's not much going on with the renovation today. I think it's pretty common to find things winding down on the last day of the week. There's a bit of ongoing carpentry as offices are framed out. It has been fun to see the beginnings of some of the repurposing that was planned into this project. The Information Services Manager is now minus a door to her office because that door is being reused in one of the new offices in the administrative wing. The Manager's office will be demolished eventually ceding space to some of the new public area.

The garage project is moving along. Thanks to everyone for the understanding about the temporary garage closure. The garage, along with the library building, is 15 years old now and requires typical repair and upkeep to ensure continued use. The crew seems to be making good progress leading us to hope that the two-week time frame is the very maximum to expect.

I read an amusing story published by the Chicago Trib today. Here's the link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-10-weirdest-sports-injujul10,0,3379533.story

It led me to think about the unusual types of injuries that happen in libraries. Sure, you might think it's a pretty safe place (and it is) but those of us who have worked in libraries for a while know that it's not foolproof! For instance, rolling a book cart over one's toe (or even worse over that of a coworker) can happen in the blink of an eye. It's kind of a rite of passage that this will happen eventually. Then there's the dropping of books (always the biggest and heaviest) on one's foot. But the truly threatening library-related injury is the dreaded paper cut! And there's plenty of paper lurking in every book on site. Even the most wonderful children's book can suddenly cause this surprising wound. I guess it can't compare with the weird sports injuries though; no one has ever had to miss a whole season of library service because of a paper cut. Thank goodness for that!

Renovation Resumes and Garage Project Begins

Just in case there was not enough going on with the 2nd floor renovation, we are beginning a repair of the upper level of the garage this week. The garage project is a "fair weather" project so that's how it happens to coincide with the renovation work. For about the next two weeks the garage will be closed as work is done to repair cracks in the surface of the upper level. The repair is needed as water is seeping through the cracks and eroding the surface further while soaking through the ceiling coating on the lower level. Once the repair is done, the concrete needs to cure for about 30 days. After the curing period, the garage will be closed again for about 10 days while the final work, including sealing and striping, is completed. Once we're sure all leaks have been addressed, the lower level ceiling will be recoated. We look forward to the completion of this work! Parking for staff has been arranged nearby but offsite so surface parking will be available for patrons throughout the closure period.

Drywall is going up in phase 1 back-of-house areas. Electrical work and installation of doors and windows will be a priority in the next week or so. It's great to see some reconstruction progress as we can fully begin to see how some of the redesigned and rearranged spaces will look.

Even with projects going on, it has been wonderful to see the steady stream of summer reading program participants. There is still time to sign up and read toward the goal of the big prize - the PPLD T-shirt which is sponsored and provided annually by the Library's Friends group. Thanks to patrons for making the Library a part of your summer schedule and thanks to our terrific staff for lending a hand to make sure each visit goes smoothly.

Quiet on the Renovation Front Today

With pretty much all of the phase one demolition finished, things were pretty quiet here at the library today. We've got several big open spaces now just waiting for the reconstruction to begin. Workstations and office furniture for the back-of-house areas are on order and should be here in a couple of weeks. In the meantime crews will be working on electrical sources, in-wall window installation, wall creation or repair and lighting. Evidence of renovation can be seen in the public areas in the AV department and upstairs near the Board room.

With the 4th of July coming up, it seems that the timing is good for a short break and activities will surely be ramping up again on Monday. Don't forget that the Main Library and branches are closed on Saturday July 4th for the holiday. You can catch some staff, volunteers and Trustees marching in the parade on Saturday with our fabulously decorated van. Hope you'll give a cheer when the library group goes by.