Library Programs – The Library staff will be resuming its Park Ranger Speaker Series programs with a program entitled "The Battle of Mobile Bay" scheduled for Tuesday, July 15th at 1:00 pm in the Rachel Carson Room, next to the Interior Cafeteria (Bison Bistro) in the basement level of the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building. Future Park Ranger Speaker Series programs will follow on the third Tuesday of every month.
The Library hopes to resume its Training Sessions programs in August.
Because the temporary Library comprises a much smaller space than the current library, some Interior Library programs will take place in conference rooms in other areas of the building. Most programs will take place in conference rooms adjacent to the Interior Cafeteria, located on the basement level. As future programs are scheduled, the Library staff will post information about them and their locations on the Library's website.
Library Staff Offices – Offices for the librarians and library technicians have also be moved. Their offices are now located in Rooms 1347, 1349, 1351, 1353, and 1355 of the building. Staff will remain in these offices for the duration of the wing 1 modernization project, about two years, after which they will return to the renovated space in the Interior Library.
Interlibrary Loan Services – The Interior Library staff will continue to take and process Interlibrary Loan requests from Interior Department staff for needed publications that are not housed in the Interior Library collections. This would include materials that are not in the off-site warehouse or temporary library.
The Interior Library staff will not accept or process requests from other libraries to borrow materials from the Interior Library collections until August or later. At that time, the Library staff will reassess its ability to reinstate this service to other libraries. The decision will depend upon how quickly the contractor can organize the collections at the off-site warehouse and how efficiently the contractor-operated delivery service is working.
The Modernized Interior Library - After the two-year modernization of Wing 1 of the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building has been completed, it is expected that the Library collections and staff will be returned to the newly renovated space.
The modernization of the current Library space is expected to include the installation of a new heating and air conditioning system, the rewiring of the electrical system and the addition of new electrical outlets, the installation of new computer network ports, the installation of new windows, replacement of water pipes and sprinkler systems, Wifi access throughout theLibrary, and refinished floors and wooden shelving. The historic look and feel of the Reading Room and balcony areas will not be dramatically altered.
As part of the modernization process, the Library will lose some space in its stacks area for the installation of required emergency exit stairwells and ramps for Wing 1 of the building. The Library will also lose some space in the southeastern corner of the Reading Room for the installation of an exterior elevator that will take building visitors between the C Street sidewalk level to the top level of the C Street entrance stairs.
Questions – Any questions related to the modernization of the Interior Library, the relocation of its collections, impacts to resources and services, and the operation of the temporary new library can be directed to me. My contact information is listed in my signature line below.
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