Leyburn Library Renovation Blog

Yesterday the University Library Committee donned hard hats and walked the great expanse that is now the Main level of Leyburn Library. Carole Bailey, project manager, led the tour and pointed out the areas for the Writing Center, new study rooms, enhanced media lab, and the framing that has taken place for the combined Information Desk and a few offices. The committee members were impressed and pleased with the plan and the progress. For an objective comment on the renovation, talk to one of the committee members: Claudette Artwick (Journalism), David Bello (History), Chris Connors (Geology), Bob DeMaria ((Journalism),Dennis Garvis (Bus. Admin), Scott Johnson (Classics), Maryanne Simurda (Biology) and Kary Smout (English). We are still on target for a late January move-in.

Tried to get in the front entrance of Leyburn this week? You may have noticed that the stairs and half the lobby were blocked off. That's because the framing for the Writing Center was going up! You didn't know the Writing Center was moving? Yes, it is. What better place for it?!!?

The Writing Center will be in the area behind the Main level elevators. When not in use by the Writing Center folks, the room will be reservable for small group meetings, too.

Check it out! (No pun intended)

Have you seen the BIG HOLE on the Elrod Commons side of Leyburn Library? That's going to be the new entrance and lots of GLASS. The renovation is increasing the amount of natural light - and electrical - dramatically. Even in January it will be much brighter!

And students are finding the rearranged comfy furniture to their liking, too!

It's amazing how much space there is on the main floor of Leyburn when you take the books,shelves and people out!

And no telling what you will find!

Who knew Coke came in bottles!!

And is this new modern art for the new building?

Real progress is being made: the door frame for the new writing center is going up to the left of the stairs.

And the new door is being cut on the Elrod Commons side of the building.

No one is happier than University Librarian Merrily E. Taylor (on right in photo) and Project Manager Carole Bailey!

Ever wonder what the Main level of Leyburn would look like without the stacks? VAST emptiness! For the past few weeks Mathers Construction has pulled up carpet, taken out the ceiling, and drilled over 20 holes, and now taken down the old walls. They have also done a lot of shoveling/carting/tossing of the rubble. It is really starting to get exciting, now that we can see how much space is really available for new study rooms, furniture, and redesign. You're going to love it!

The view from the front door, looking through the University Librarian's former offices.

All that's left standing is the University Librarian's former "executive washroom".

Needs some books, don't you think?

If you haven't peeked in the windows of Leyburn recently, you're in for a surprise! The windows are the only things left! Mathers Construction started ripping apart the Main level in mid-August. The carpets have been removed, put on pallets, and sent for recycling. The ceiling is out. The few remaining walls are coming down next week. If it weren't for the swarm of construction workers and the noise, it would be a ghost town!

The view from the Book Nook toward the former periodical area

The long view, from the former Technical Services looking toward the former Circulation area

Meanwhile, on Lower Level 1, life is becoming a new normal. The combined Circulation and Help Desk are smoothly fielding questions and solving problems. The temporary Reference Desk has a clear view of people coming down the stairs. Students and faculty have adjusted with resigned smiles on their faces. Faculty posters haunt the stacks. And everyone is learning their way around the new, temporary hiding places for DVDs, new books, maps, reference materials, and microfilm- to name a few.

We hope to see you soon!

During work-day hours of Tuesday 9 September through Friday 12 September, there is likely to be some seriously disturbing drilling noise in Leyburn Library.

No, this is not our attempt to tap the immense oil deposits beneath Rockbridge County.
Instead, the renovation work on the Main Floor is going to involve "core drilling" through concrete, a process likely to be very loud and irritating throughout the building, especially on Lower Levels 1 and 2.

We apologize for the inconvenience (and the headaches). If you need to be in here for extended periods during this time, earplugs and Advil might be a good idea. Seriously.

The Annie stations on 3 and 4 are back in operation as of Sept. 10.

Reference Desk:
Circulation color printer (in the lounge), or to the
HP LaserJet 4250 PCL6 (outside of Elizabeth's office, visible from the Ref. Desk)

Non-W&L users:
Print to LaserJet 4250 (outside of Elizabeth's office, visible from the Ref. Desk)
at a cost of $0.10 page

Lab in 101:
As in past years, has color and B&W printer for W&L student use.

August 18 was the big day for Leyburn Library's Technical Services staff. Your friends in Acquisitions, Cataloging, Serials, and Binding now reside in a brand spanking new office on LL1 near the elevators. This is the permanent home of the Technical Services Dept. (not to be confused with the temporary "swing-space" renovation moves most of the rest of the Leyburn Library staff have made). Considering that Technical Services had occupied a good portion of the main level since the Library was built in 1979, this was quite a move. We love our new space! We've officially crossed that bridge to the 21st Century!

So how did our move go yesterday? Actually it was all a bit of blur. At 8:30 we went on the final walk-through of our new space with Carole Bailey. Around 9:00 the festivities began in earnest. During the next couple of hours our staff moved their personal stuff to their new cubicles. Meanwhile the moving crew was hauling the heavy stuff down to the new office under the watchful eye of Jennifer Wise, while Ben Hartless and his ITS summer crew set up our computers and printers. Dana Camper and Tom Tinsley made sure data and communications were working for us. By the end of the morning several of our staff were already settled in. Some of us still have some unpacking to do, though. Here on the morning after, it's fair to say that we're all seriously relieved that our big move is finally over.

So ... Here's an invitation to all you readers of this blog. Come check out the most excellent new Technical Services office on LL1, if you haven't already. In the meantime here are some pictures from the move.

The movers, electricians at work

A view of the new office

Carol, Laura H., and Wanda moving in

Still getting settled in

The Tech Services crew the morning after