During Spring Break, renovations will begin on Olin Library’s Floor Two, though Floor One has yet to be completed.
The books of Olin Two, however, will remain for now. Once renovations on Olin One are complete, Olin Two’s books will be relocated to the bottom floor, said Scott Britton, head of access.
Half the books currently stored at West Campus-those formerly housed on Olin One-will be relocated to the bottom floor as well, with space permitting, Britton said.
Initially, renovations were to proceed by floor with little if any overlap between their construction periods, but because of delays, Olin One and Two will undergo simultaneous renovations beginning in March.
“[With] any renovations as complex as this, when you’re depending on things from 40 to 50 different suppliers, some things get delayed,” said Shirley Baker, vice chancellor for information technology and dean of University libraries.
The renovations on Olin Two will begin with the Audio/Visual (AV) Department on the east side of the floor. Equipment and materials in the AV Department will be relocated to the north side of Olin Three, replacing a cluster of computer terminals on that floor, though some space behind the computer terminals has been cleared to accommodate the AV materials. Room 252, the large classroom on Olin Two, will be closed during renovation.
Despite possible problems with noise, Baker cited the changes as “a great inconvenience to every user and staff of the library.”
According to Baker, Olin One is scheduled for completion by the end of the summer. Currently, installation of the movable stack shelving is being finalized, and contractors are working on staff areas and studies.
Upon completion Olin Two will house a new technology center, complete with a fully wired classroom, computers, scanners, and other equipment. Microforms will also move to that floor.
Exterior work on the library is scheduled to begin this spring, and complete renovations of the library are to be completed by 2004.
Contact Allison at [email protected].
Tentative schedule for Olin Library renovations
Spring Term 2002
Exterior work begins, including erection of construction fencing and construction of new walls around Level Three
Reserves Desk moves temporarily to Level Three
Microfilm and videos move temporarily to Level Three
Summer 2002
Renovation of Level One is complete
Level Two books move temporarily to Level One
60 percent of former Level One books return from West Campus
Fall Term 2002
Level Four books move to temporary location in Olin
Technology Center opens in new permanent space on Level Two
Microfilm and video collections move to new permanent space on Level Two
Level One books still at West Campus return to Olin
Reserve Desk and Circulation Desk merge and move to temporary space in what will eventually be the Cybercafe
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) moves temporarily to space in what will be the Cybercafe
Library Administration moves to temporary space in NW area of Level Three
Main entrance moves to south side of building
Source: WU Libraries website (http://www.library.wustl.edu)