Library Renovations

According to a recent article "most librarians gain knowledge about buildings and construction only by going through  a renovation project -- meaning that the "lessons learned" come only after the fact" (Antell & McCoy, 2011).

Unfortunately, since renovations are expensive and timely the library or building has to live with the decision of the change or renovation that was made. It is extremely important to make a correct idea or assessment of what is being renovated because the decision is final once it is made.  

Sources such as the "The Library Renovation, Maintenance, and Construction Handbook"  provides a nice in depth look of all the intricacies that go into renovating a library. It gives the reader "the knowledge of  the elements of a successful building project: design, construction, and commissioning" (Antell & McCoy, 2011). It also gives the reader an idea of what to expect in terms of the cost and the extra work that goes into a major renovating project.

For example, the Roseville Library in Roseville, Minnesota recently renovated their library in order to have a more sustainable design and  exhibit environmentally friendly features. The renovation proved to be costly at $10 million and it opened its doors in 2010. The environmentally friendly decisions ripple through the building in the form of "furnishings, finishes, and fixtures because the building was built from the top down as opposed to the usual building from the bottom down philosophy" (Wenzel, 2011). The result is a new environmentally friendly library that the citizens of Minnesota can use on a day to day basis.

The environmentally friendly library applies to the science aspect because the Roseville library should be used as an example to "go green" because pollution and other hazards are destroying the world that we inhabit. It is important that we as citizens protect our resources because this is the only planet we have to live in.

References:

Antell, K., & McCoy, S. (2011). The Library Renovation, Maintenance, and Construction Handbook. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 51(2), 205-206. Retrieved April 14, 2012, from the EBSCO Host- Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.

Wenzel, H. (2011). Pop Goes the Library!. Library Journal, 1, 14. Retrieved April 16, 2012, from the UNT-Electronic Resources database.

Main Downtown Library

                                   

The Main Downtown Library in El Paso, Texas

            The main downtown library in El Paso, Texas temporarily closed its doors to the public for two full years. On December 24, 2004 the main library for the city of El Paso, Texas closed its doors to the citizens of because it went through a major renovation.  The city voted in the year 2000 for major renovations and expansion thanks to a city bond named the Quality of Life. The idea was to expand the library from 65,000 square feet to 110,000 square feet. The bond gave the tax payers of the city to pay an extra 45,000 square feet and a new 250 seat auditorium where various presenters and performers could come to the library and speak to the patrons. The city also approved an larger are for teenagers and young adults. The extra space provided a place where teenagers could come out and spend their time with their friends and family in the library. The new area was to include game consoles where children can come and play the latest video games, and plenty of space for young adults to dance to music. The additional space also provided the chance to add an extra 50 computers to an expanded computer lab. The new renovations and expansion for young adults is called "Teen Town."

The new renovated library was also in line to add an expanded collection of books and resources for loan to the citizens of El Paso.

The staff of the main library was to be reassigned to other branches throughout the city. The city of El Paso has approximately 13 branches and a bookmobile that goes around the city to accommodate people who want to rent books and don not have the means or transportation to got to an area branch.  The other branches of the city also stayed opened for extended hours during the renovation to accommodate the closure of the main library.  

The renovated and expanded main downtown library in El Paso, Texas opened its doors on July 2006.

References:

El Paso Public Library - (2012.). THE CITY OF EL PASO, TEXAS - www.elpasotexas.gov. Retrieved April 13, 2012, from http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/

El Paso Public Library - Our Libraries - Main (Downtown) Library Construction. (n.d.). THE CITY OF EL PASO, TEXAS - www.elpasotexas.gov. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/ourlibraries/main_library/main_library_construction.asp