The much-anticipated renovation and expansion of Schaffer Library is underway, and library patrons have been urged to plan ahead.
The first phase of the project began in early February when demolition of the 1974 wing on the building's east side started. A temporary wall was installed a few feet inside the east wall of the 1961 building so that library operations could continue.
The demolition was expected to take three weeks. Then, crews were to begin driving piles to depths of twenty-five feet, an operation that was expected to continue through mid-March. Since the pile-driving was expected to create noise audible on most parts of campus, work was restricted to weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Before the demolition and construction work began, the library staff had worked feverishly on plans to minimize disruption to library operations. A substantial portion of the library's collection of 500,000 volumes had to be moved to off-campus storage, so librarians devised a prompt and regular retrieval system. Books are usually available within a day of a request. Off-campus storage was restricted to materials that have not circulated since 1988.
All library operations that deal directly with patrons have been consolidated in the original 1961 building. Technical services and inter-library loan administration have been relocated to North Colonnade (the former Psychology Building; the Psychology Department is now on the third floor of Bailey Hall).
The work had an impact across campus, of course. With the number of study spaces in the library reduced by half, the College made alternate study space available in several other buildings. The area between Alumni Gymnasium and the library has been closed to pedestrians to allow access for equipment and supplies. Construction vehicles are using the Union Avenue gate, and a wheel washing station inside campus gates will remove dirt and debris from trucks before they enter city streets.
Work on the library is being done by the Pike Company, a general construction/construction management firm located in Rochester, N.Y. The company's recent projects include a technology center on the RIT campus and a campus center and business school at Alfred University.
The $18.25-million Schaffer Library project will increase the size of the library from 65,000 to 98,000 square feet. Completion is expected in the summer of 1998. The second phase-the renovation of the original 1961 building-is expected to begin in early 1998.
Those who want to follow the library project can check the “What's New at Schaffer Library” page on the College's web site at
www.union.edu/computing/library/library.html.
In the meantime, preparation work was done for the F.W. Olin Center, the $9 million high technology and classroom building to be erected on a site bounded by the library, the Social Sciences Building, the Reamer Campus Center, and the Science and Engineering Center. During December, crews moved steam, water, sanitary, and telecommunications lines to make room for the building.
Visitors are reminded that no parking is allowed on campus roadways unless otherwise designated-a restriction that will be especially important during construction of these two major projects.