Just another brick in the wall...

The library is definitely beginning to take shape on the inside as well as the outside now. The inside is just about all framed in on all three levels. Sheet rocking is continuing, but the majority of that is done as well.

The windows are being installed on the second floor now as well. Or perhaps it's the third? We're still not sure how to classify the floors. We actually seem to have about two and a half floors in the building! We have the original first floor, the original second floor, and a new third floor. However it's not really a full floor above the second floor. The second floor, which only holds the administrative offices, is just 8 steps lower than the new third floor. So it's not really three full floors, but rather two and a half floors! You'll just have to see it when we re-open. It's actually pretty cool, there is a catwalk type thing that bridges the administrative floor and the third floor reading bower.

We are also beginning to work on some of the fine tuning of the building. In the places in the old building, where we attached bookshelves to the brick, we are working on ways to repair the brick where the old supports were attached. We are also trying to figure out how to get the brick in the old conference room cleaned. Some of you might remember that there was an old chalk board attached to the wall in that room. 30 plus years of chalk dust is not easy to clean off of brick! It's quite interesting all the little things that you never really think of when you start a project, we are all learning new things everyday with this building.

Outside, besides the windows and the pre-cast panels, you should start to see some of the metal panels being installed. The asphalt, unfortunately, will not be poured until later this year. The ground is still too wet to do anything, and the asphalt company is shut down for now, so that is something to look forward to in the spring!

Driving by the building is so exciting to all of us right now. You can really see how beautifully the architects have melded the old and the new into one very beautiful and inspiring building. I am very proud of the steps we have taken to make sure this building is as environmentally friendly as possible, and in later blogs I'll go into more detail about that I promise!

Next time you're driving past the building, just imagine it all completed. Full native landscaping surrounding a beautiful new building that glows with warmth and excitement. A building full of ideas, both old and new. A place you can leaf through an old edition of the Villager or download the newest MP3 book. It will all be available at your new Richland Public Library!

Theresa