Web Master This summer, Washington University will begin a complete $20 to $40 million renovation and modernization of Olin Library that will take place over the next three years.
“The new renovations will change the architectural structure as little as possible while bringing resources up to date and increasing the library’s usability and attractiveness,” said B.J. Johnston, assistant dean of collections.
The improvements, however, will come at a price. This summer, beginning on May 11, Olin 1 will be closed, and its contents will be moved to West Campus between May 11 and May 31, remaining there until at least July 27. The floor’s shelves will then be dismantled so that asbestos can be removed from the area.
Some other changes will be more permanent. The “Olin Beach” area will no longer be accessible to students. Though it will not be removed, it will be expanded to serve as the roof for the expansion and caf‚. Plans to provide an alternative to the beach include landscaping and adding benches near the entrance.
The entrance to the library will also be relocated to the south side of the building. Walls on the third level will be pushed out to the edge of the structure, creating 12,000 square feet more space for shelves and study areas. There will also be more couches, as well as new individual study stations. Group and graduate study rooms will grow as well.
A cyber caf‚ with glass walls will replace the courtyard area currently near the entrance of the library. Internet access, coffee and bagels will be available in the cafe. The study area will be open 24 hours to meet student demand.
To keep true to the original architectural design of the building, the new caf‚ will be enclosed in glass as opposed to concrete walls, Johnson said.
“Our emphasis is on user space and services. The ambiance will be nicer, and in general the library will be more and better,” Johnston said. “We rejected plans which dramatically altered the building, but we do want to bring it up to date and make it a better place for students to study and research.”
Other possible cosmetic changes include the removal of the carrels from the fourth- and fifth-story windows to allow more natural light, and adding more windows on these floors.
One major objective of the renovations is to make Olin as convenient and user-friendly as possible. This objective involves technological updates and reorganization. The library will be completely wired, or wireless data ports will be added so students can access the Internet from laptops anywhere in the building. Level two will house a multimedia center with technology classrooms, a computer lab, and a location for scanning and digitizing images.
Circulation, Reserve, Reference, and Inter-Library Loan will all be in one area together for increased convenience for both students and librarians. Compact shelving on the ground floor will have double holding capacity for books as well. New plumbing, air conditioning, heating, and electricity will also make the building more pleasant.
The changes will take place floor by floor so that the library will always be somewhat usable. During first floor renovation, books will be moved to West Campus. During second floor renovation, books will move to the first floor, and shifting will continue throughout renovation.
“We are not anticipating major problems since the books will always be available… it will just be a matter of finding them,” Johnston said. However, some students currently working on final projects, papers, and exams are having difficulty in the ever-shifting library.