We have asphalt!

Whoops! Sorry we let last week go by without a post! Things are moving so fast right now that it's all we can do to stop and take a breath. The building is really taking shape on the inside. For so long, it was just the bare bones of a library, all steel girders and basic building blocks. Now, with drywall almost all completed and paint going on the walls, it's so easy to see what will be.

The grand entrance, with the two story high windows and open feeling will take your breath away, it is so beautiful. The art wall has been restored to almost new conditions, and glows like a beautiful jewel in it's new setting. The fireplace upstairs is also framed in. I am so excited by the prospect of curling up in front of the fireplace with a new book.

Something that excites us to no end is the installation of the server racks in the new server room. In the old library, our server room was a converted office where the servers were on tables that we "borrowed" from other areas of the library, and one little server holder that sat on the floor. Whenever we needed to make changes, it required one person on their back on the floor, with their arms in a very uncomfortable position, one person kneeling on the table above them working with the cable, and one person trying to decipher which cable went to what computer!

We also, finally, have asphalt being poured for the parking lot! They did the first lift of that yesterday, and will continue to work on it for awhile. That's a huge jump forward in our time schedule, and gives us hope that one day we will be back home where we belong.

The bottom of the public stairwell has been poured, and the lighted wall is still being worked on. That will definitely be a feature point of the new library, and will hold a surprise for you that we aren't going to tell you about! You'll just have to wait and see.



We are getting tons of questions about when we will be moving back to the new library. We do not have a firm move back date yet -- sometime this summer is the closest we can do right now. The building is on time, but much depends on the installation of shelving, when we can get the furniture in, and some other variables that are out of our control.

Speaking of shelving, Jeanette is hard at work figuring out the best way to facilitate the move of our materials. I do believe, that if you tell her the title of a book, by now she can tell you the exact shelf that it resides on. Her brain works in very mysterious ways!

In the meantime, stop by and see us in this temporary location. We still have the same great people and the same great materials --- and soon we'll have a great building as well!

Theresa

Still a work in progress...

While the weather outside might be rather dreary, inside the building it's warm and dry and toasty, and work is moving along at a rapid pace.

In the existing building most of the paint is finished, with just a few touch up areas to be done. The ceiling grid installation is beginning, and some of the light fixtures are in place. They are beginning to prep for floor installation, and are figuring on installing the ceramic tile in about two weeks.

In the new building, framing is nearly finished, with just the retail area and the fireplace to be finished. GWB is being hung (whatever that might be!) and painting will start next week. All of the skylights are installed, and boy is there a lot of natural light in the building!

Sidewalk prep has started, and asphalt will be poured once the temperature gets above 40 degrees.

When we were over there yesterday, we noticed one of the feature walls is roughed in. It is a two story wall that the public stairs will be attached to. It features recessed lights and will be both beautiful and functional.

Lisa and I were both remarking how pleased we are with the way the design blends the old and the new building together. The Richland Public Library staff has always felt a high degree of ownership in our building, and we were wondering if we'd still feel the same way with all the changes, but it's so easy to find all the aspects of the old building that we loved still evident in the new building. We are all tremendously excited, and cannot wait until we get to move home!

Theresa

Still progressing..

I keep hoping that spring is just around the corner, but it looks like we still have a bit more winter weather to get through before winter leaves for good. Oh well, at least the building is progressing forward on schedule.

This week, the existing building has been completely painted on the inside. All the staff offices, study rooms, etc... are almost done. The ceiling grids are being installed and they are beginning to prep for the flooring.

In the new part of the building, there are just a few areas left that need framing. They are starting to hang sheet rock in those sections, and finishing up the electrical. All the sky lights are completed, and the monitor panels are in.

The brick art relief has been cleaned and restored and it looks beautiful! Hopefully they will be able to do the same to the brick that has the 30+ years of embedded chalk dust!

Outside, the prep for the sidewalk pours is being done. No word yet on when the asphalt will be poured, but hopefully it will be soon.

On our last walk through, I was noticing how light the entrance of the building is. When you walk in, even with the plastic covering the window openings, it's very easy to see how open and airy it will be. The perfect place to meet your friends for coffee and grab a quick bite to eat.

While it doesn't look like it, landscaping is being worked on. I believe the replacement trees have been picked out and are being stored somewhere until we can get them planted. No, I don't know what they are or when they will go in, but I'm looking forward to seeing some more green go up around the building.

Over in the temp spot, please come by and visit us. We still have the same great service, and all the same materials, it's just compacted into one very small space!

Stay warm and think Spring Thoughts!

Theresa

Hard at work

What a difference a week makes...

Last week, what was the beginning stages of sheetrocking the offices has progressed to painting them. More glass has been installed with almost all of the Swift side of the building being glassed in. Yesterday, the windows and glass door in the library director's office were being installed, finishing up the glass work on the bookdrop side of the building.

Speaking of bookdrops, the first one has arrived and has been installed. There will be three slots where you may drive up to building and return your materials. There will also be three more walk up slots for you to return your materials. Like in the temporary location, all returns will be turned into a slot before you enter the library. The returns, sorting onto carts and mending of damaged items will all be done in the back of the library, freeing up valuable space up front where you can check out your items and have your questions answered without being interrupted by staff having to deal with the return of library items.

Upstairs, the framing is completed and as soon as the electrical is finished up and passes code, the sheetrock will begin going up there as well. It was a beautiful view with the sun shining in through the windows and the treetops rustling. I can't wait to kick back in a cozy chair by the fireplace and read a good book while sipping my sugar free hazelnut mocha!

In the temporary location, life continues as usual with storytimes, other children's programming, teen activities and of course lots of reading. You may have noticed there are not stacks and stacks of IRS forms to hand out due to the space limitations, but our "always there for you" reference staff will be happy to help you print them off the IRS website or you can print them from home as well - http://www.irs.gov/

Be sure and drive by once a week or so and watch the progress.

One more closer to spring and one day closer to moving "home".

Lisa

Smooth as glass...

Even though the weather has been quite gloomy, things are a bit brighter over on the construction site. Lisa and I were over there on Wednesday taking pictures, and it certainly looks like they are getting things done.

In the old building taping is almost complete. After that, they will start painting the walls. What color will they be? Your guess is as good as ours! We haven't seen the paint colors yet, but since our color scheme is supposed to follow the beautiful colors of the landscape, it should be peaceful and soothing (we hope!). The ceiling grid support wires are being installed as well. All the downstairs offices are ready for painting, and it's a bit surreal looking at the unfinished spaces, and imagining ourselves working over there. After a year and a half spent with nine of us crowded into one very small room, it will feel like we are working in a palace.

In the new part of the building, framing is almost completed. The insulation, however, is finished and we are looking forward to inhabiting a building with good insulation. We have discovered that it is nigh to impossible to type accurately wearing bulky gloves! The electrical and HVAC systems are almost done, and while that's been a bit of a bugger for us, now it is completed and ready to rock. Also this week, the plumbing is being tested. Let me tell you, we consider plumbing extremely important. If I never have to plunge another public restroom it will be entirely too soon! (TMI you think?)

The other bit of news is that the asphalt subcontractor was on site this week doing some cleanup work. The first asphalt pour will follow once the sub grade is dry.

Over here in the temp space, we are getting more and more questions about the new building. When will it be done? What are you doing with all the stuff over here? Are you getting all new material? To answer the most important first, we don't exactly know WHEN we can move in, but we are speculating that it will be sometime this summer. The sooner the better as far as we are concerned, but mid-summer is our best guess. As for the furniture and shelving that we are leaving behind, stay tuned for more info on that. We are not sure what we CAN do with this stuff, but as soon as we know, we will let you know. And no, we are not refinishing this furniture and bringing it back. The chairs will all be new chairs. After 30 plus years with the same furniture, it is time to get some new (clean!) furniture. Trust me -- you will appreciate it! We are not getting rid of our books and DVDs etc... they will all be making the move back to the building. However, we are going to try to have an "Opening Day" collection ready for when we reopen with lots of brand new books and movies and music to choose from. We are all very excited about this, and look forward to reopening with loads of new choices!

Stay warm-

Theresa