Prepping for a renovation – plan, plan, plan!

Academic libraries are no strangers to organization.

Bridgit McCafferty (2021, p. 23) states in Library Management: A Practical Guide for Librarians, “If there is any field that understands the importance of organization, it is librarianship.” The idea that different frameworks can guide phases of project management is extremely relevant and a necessity when taking on a large-scale projects.

From administrative structure to the books on the shelves to the finite details of opening and closing procedures – there’s a way we library professionals do things and a reason why we do it that way.

So, it should come as no surprise that preparing for renovation within the walls of our beloved libraries requires the same attention to detail as we would give to any other project or initiative.

At my library, we’re a small staff of eight. At any given time, multiple projects can be happening at once. It’s likely that staff are involved in more than one at a time, handling the various tasks that go into completing them. Right now, our staff are in the process of two executing two major projects on different spectrums – one being a migration to a new Integrated library system, and the other a renovation to move critical student tutoring services from our third floor to the first floor.

The latter, which is in the final approval stage, is one that our staff are not necessarily in control of. We’ve been made aware of the plans and even have a draft of what those plans will look like, but the approval and beginning stages of the construction are out of our hands.

In order to ensure as smooth a transition as possible once construction starts, a small sub-committee – made up of myself and one other staff member – have been diligently taking notes and having discussions about items that need to be moved. These items, such as furniture and fixtures, will need rehomed in order to make room for the new space that will be enclosed within our current walls.

One thing our library has prided itself on in recent years is the “home away from home” feeling that certain areas provide on our first floor, such as the large space we refer to as The Den. It’s a large open area with a balcony overlooking it that holds a fireplace along with comfortable furniture and small round tables for group collaboration. The Den will change with the new addition, so we’ve been careful to consider how we can still keep that same appeal to our students but make the space functional and appealing.

This project is, quite literally, a lot of moving parts! Proper planning months in advance of the first hammer strike is integral to the overall success of the project as well as our staff members’ peace of mind.

Personally, this is the first major renovation I have been part of as an employee of this library. Working in the field of Access Services, I am deeply invested in understanding the phases of this project, not only for myself but for the students I supervise in circulation as well as our other patrons that frequent the library. The more I understand and know, the better I can serve our students, faculty and staff.

Has your library undergone any kind of phased renovation? Feel free to comment and share your story!

References

McCafferty, Bridgit. 2021. Library Management: A Practical Guide for Librarians. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.