Library turns page to the future
Renovations begin on Henry Madden Library; new building will house 2 million books, wireless Internet and more study areas for students
Andrew Riggs / The Collegian
A construction worker runs wrecking equipment to tear down the north wing of the Henry Madden Library Aug. 9. The demolition is part of the $95 million library expansion and renovation, expected to be completed in fall 2008. |
By Katrina Garcia
The Collegian
Renovations of Fresno State’s Henry Madden Library are under way, as construction workers pave the way for the new building to house 2 million books and more studying space for students.
Demolition of the north wing of the library began on the morning of Aug. 9 and drew a crowd of about 40 onlookers, from current library employees to curious young toddlers who looked on as wrecking equipment struck the lower wall of the wing.
“The building they’re demolishing now is completely inadequate,” Library Dean Michael Gorman said of the library.
One of the main reasons for the library expansion and renovation was the need for more book space and reader stations.
Although librarians have made room for the average of 20,000 new volumes added to the library every year by removing books, the space for the thousands of newly added volumes had to be found where student reader stations were located.
The new $95 million library, designed by architect firm A.C. Martin Partners, Inc., will be 350,000 square-feet and will include wireless Internet access, a formal and informal reading room, a café and a capacity to hold 2 million books.
“There will be ample space to study in a variety of different ways,” Gorman said. “It will look very modern, but it will be a high-tech version of the way libraries used to be. We’ll have a library adaptable to modern circumstances.”
Bob Boyd, Fresno State’s associate vice president for facilities management, said the top two floors of the library should be demolished by the first day of classes, in order for students to not be disrupted by the construction.
Cleanup of the site is expected to take about two weeks. Swinerton Builders, who is overseeing the planning and construction of the library, will salvage and recycle much of the debris.
During construction of the library, alternate study areas are available on campus. Students can still check out volumes by filling out a form either in a paper or online. Typically, they are delivered within 24 hours of the request.
Ground breaking for the new portion of the library will be held Sept. 25, and is expected to be completed in fall 2008. Gorman said the library’s updated look, along with greater study space, will attract more students than ever before.
“I think the usage will go up enormously,” Gorman said. “It’s going to look beautiful.”
For more information on library services or to see the current status of the library expansion via webcam, visit www.maddenlibrary.org.
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