Heads up... we won't have air conditioning next week

As buildings age, so do their mechanical systems. Our library's heating and air systems are outdated and will be replaced as part of our renovation. As long as the parts arrive on time, workers will begin installing our new chilling tower next Monday (February 20). This very necessary work will take about seven days, and there will be no cooling system operable during this time. Please plan accordingly and dress in layers when you visit us next week!

We apologize for the temporary inconvenience this work may cause, but the end result will be a much more efficient system that will heat and cool the building more effectively and save energy (and dollars).

Yay, bricks!

Check it out! We took these photos of brickwork on the addition facing the parking lot this morning:

Looking good so far!

What's that green stuff?

Yesterday afternoon, workers started painting the addition facing our parking lot bright green. If you've been by, you may be wondering, "What is that stuff?"

It's a water-proof coating that's applied before masonry and is meant to protect the interior from any moisture that may seep in from the outside. It means we're getting ready to see some bricks!

The addition's filling out! Plus, some peeks behind the wall

Happy to report that the addition facing the parking lot is starting to look like a building!

Pretty exciting, huh?

Also, we took a peek behind the temporary wall on the second floor to take a look at the space that will become the larger Heritage Room. Check out these photos!

In the above photo, you can see the old Heritage Room space (look for the big round light fixtures.) The photo was taken at the edge of the new space. Laura Carter is standing there at the edge of the old Heritage Room offices (wall is gone)for perspective.

This last shot gives you a better look at the old space. The new Heritage Room will have its own conference room for classes and meetings. Plus it will have more space: for the collection, for storage and for the staff! We are excited!

They're working on the roof!

Workers are starting in on the roof for the addition facing the parking lot.

Hello, up there!

Also, they're building the steel framework for the glass structure over the future lobby.

It's exciting to see things take shape!

Taking Shape!

The addition facing our parking lot is starting to look like a building!

Workers are framing out where the windows will be on the first floor.

Bricks are picked!

If you have never been involved in the construction of a home, then you would be surprised to know how many variations there are when it comes to bricks and mortar. So many colors! So many textures! Unfortunately for our building, the bricks used 20 years ago are no longer available today. Therefore, we've been on a quest to find a close match for both brick and mortar. If you've been to the library recently, you've probably see a few of our "test walls," short little bits of brick and mortar. The winner is on the left in this photo:

In case you're wondering why there are two different types of brick of these samples, it's because our building has two different styles of brick... the walls of the first floor have a lighter colored brick; the second floor has darker.

In other news, we shot this interesting photo the other day:

Look closely. See the big pile of red dirt? With the worker standing almost up to his waist in a trench? Inside the Library? You must admit, this is something you don't see every day!

Just a quick warning: Soon, the electrical guys will be doing something called "coring" which means they have to drill through the second floor concrete down to the first floor in order to pull cable. It will be noisy. We don't yet have a date, but it will take a day to do the drilling and they will try to give us at least 48 hours advanced notice. This is something that has to be done. Please bear with us... the end results will be worth it!