Huntsville Public Library Renovation & Expansion

Forever Bricks and Children's Room

2011-12-20T14:56:00.004-06:00

Today we have a few photos of the Forever Bricks being laid, plus some shots of the new children's room. "Like" us on Facebook or visit our Flickr slideshow for more photos and information about the renovation, plus other library events.

The new children's carpet with some fun pops of color.

A partial view of the new children's room.

The new children's room has a large door for adults and a small door for our younger patrons.

The first few rows of the Forever Bricks being laid.

A close-up shot of the Forever Bricks in progress.

The move begins (plus Kindle lending!)

2011-09-23T10:45:00.002-05:00

Even though we won't close down until Monday, we've started moving a few things into the west wing. The Huntsville Item has a story with more details about the closure. We'll be closed for two weeks, so today and Saturday are the last days you have to stock up on reading material.

If you aren't able to make it to the library, though, we have good news: our downloadable e-books are now compatible with the Amazon Kindle! Previously, our e-books were compatible with all major e-readers except the Kindle. We're very pleased that we're able to extend this service to Kindle users, especially since our survey indicated most of you who own a reader own a Kindle. Visit www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com and click on the "Download eBooks" graphic to get started. We also have plenty of audiobooks available. Read the press release for more information.

Shelves go up in the children's room.

New kitchen

Community room

Library Closed September 26 - October 9

2011-08-31T14:16:00.001-05:00

The library will be closed from Monday, September 26 through Sunday, October 9 to facilitate the move to the west wing so the current building can be renovated. We will re-open Monday, October 10 at 10:00 AM.

Other information you should know:

No items will be due during this time. If you have items that would normally be due during these two weeks, they will be due on October 10.
All regular programming, including Preschool Story Hour, will be cancelled for these two weeks.
ILL requests will be processed beginning Friday, September 2. You may still turn in your requests, but they will not be filled until we re-open.
The phone lines will also be down and staff will not have access to their computers. We will be, for the most part, off the grid - please ask us your questions before September 26!

There is good news though. Today our downloadable e-book and audiobook service launched! This means if you have a home computer you'll have plenty of reading material while we are closed. Visit our website at www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com for more information. It's easy, free, and we have hundreds of books (current and classic) available.

Updates

2011-08-19T09:53:00.000-05:00

Work on the exterior has continued: the walls are fully bricked, most windows are in, and the roof is being worked on. Take a look at the photos below, and be sure to click on them to view them full-size.

View from 14th Street

Another view from 14th Street

View of west wing from Avenue M

Another view of west wing from Avenue M

View of west wing from 13th Street

Windows!

2011-07-27T11:11:00.000-05:00

The west wing has windows! It's a little tricky to see, but check out the photos below. As you will see, the entire west wall has also been bricked. It looks almost ready to go.

More brick images - click each image to enlarge

2011-06-27T11:40:00.001-05:00

Completed east wing

Progress on the west wing

The bricks go up!

2011-06-16T15:10:00.000-05:00

The bricks have started to go up on the east wing walls, and scaffolding has been placed to facilitate the installation of the bricks on the west wing! Take a look at the photos below. The new structure is more and more resembling an actual building these days. Goodbye neon green...

The bricks start to go up on the east wing. Perspective from 14th Street.

The bricks pile higher.

The 14th Street view of the east wing is completed.

Another shot of the east wing.

Scaffolding around the west wing from 14th Street.

Scaffolding around the west wing from Avenue M.

Interior Photographs

2011-06-06T17:46:00.000-05:00

One of the most interesting things about a new building project is the way the interior looks in progress. Here we've collected a few photos of the inside of the new east and west wings. You can view even more photos at the library's Flickr slideshow, located here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/huntsvillepl/show.

The entryway into the east wing

This shot of the east wing gives you an idea of how large it is.

More east wing

Parking lot behind the library

West wing

Book Sale!

2011-05-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

Most of you are probably aware that the library has an ongoing book sale where we sell paperbacks, hardbacks, audiobooks, and VHS movies throughout the year. These items are usually priced somewhere between 25 cents for a paperback to a dollar for a hardback.

Well, the walls are moving in (quite literally - the temporary walls are being moved in further to the existing library space), and as a result, storage space is at a premium. In order to clear out some space, the library has decided to reduce all book sale items to ten cents each. This means that instead of paying a dollar to get one hardback book, you could pay a dollar and get TEN hardbacks. With this system, the library and its customers both benefit - we get the much-needed space and you get even more reading material.

This price reduction is temporary, so we hope you'll come by soon and look through the hundreds of items offered for sale. The majority of the items are set up in boxes near the back wall, and we also have a few carts of books near the front door.

Questions? Give us a call at 936-291-5472. Happy shopping!

A little color

2011-04-19T10:08:00.000-05:00

Things are looking a bit more colorful around the new library wings these days thanks to the bright green siding/insulation that has been installed.

Installation of A/C Unit

2011-03-22T11:51:00.002-05:00

The air conditioning unit was installed on the west wing today (the unit on the east wing has been in place for a few days), and we were lucky enough to get some photos of the process. It involved a 200-ton capacity crane with 250 feet of boom. The A/C unit itself is about the size of a school bus. Take a look below!

Continuing Work on the New Wings

2011-02-16T10:39:00.000-06:00

Work is continuing on the new wings! The landscape is changing on a daily basis as the construction crew makes headway on the new library. Check out the photos below of the latest progress, and be sure to take a look at the slideshow, which includes more photos not seen here.

Progress on the west wing

Supports are constructed on the new east wing.

The east wing gains a roof.

The West Wing Goes Up

2011-01-28T14:24:00.001-06:00

Support beams and trusses for the west wing have gone up, and the foundation has been poured for the east wing. For even more photos, view the slideshow at Flickr.

The support beams go up on the west wing.

Work continues the next day...

...and the next one, when the trusses are installed.


A view of the new west wing from Avenue M.

The concrete foundation for the new east wing.

Forever Bricks Fundraiser

2010-12-13T11:59:00.001-06:00

Make your mark on the new library! The Huntsville Library and the Library Board are selling "Forever Bricks" to give the community an opportunity to make a lasting impression upon the new library building. A personalized brick is an ideal way to honor a loved one or demonstrate your own commitment to the mission of the public library. These "Forever Bricks" will make up the Plaza at the new entrance near 13th Street.

Each 4" x 8" "Forever Brick" is fired and guaranteed to last as least as long as the life of the library building. The bricks are being sold for $20 each and can be engraved with up to two lines of text of the purchaser's choosing. If you would like to contribute, fill out the form by clicking on one of the links below, print it out, and bring it by the library or mail it to us with your check made out to Huntsville Public Library. Use the first link if you have Infopath on your computer, and use the second link if you do not.

Forever Bricks Fundraiser (Microsoft Infopath)

Forever Bricks Purchase Form (.pdf)

Temporary Walls and Concrete

2010-12-13T11:30:00.000-06:00

Things are feeling a little claustrophobic at the library lately. Temporary walls have been built inside the library in preparation for the existing walls to be torn down, and it's made the space inside a little smaller. It's all worth it, though, since the end result will be a library building more than three times as large as the current one.

Concrete has also been poured for the new west wing. Check out the photos of the action below, and be sure to click on each image to enlarge it. We've also set up a Flickr stream so you can see all the photographs of the renovation and expansion in one place. It's got all of the photos from the blog as well as a few extras. Go here to see it.

Children's Coordinator Janelle Valera helps mark off the north side of the building while the temporary walls are built.

The frame goes up on the east side.

Another shot of the frame on the east side.

A behind the scenes look of the action.

The completed frame on the east side.

The north side of the building before the temporary wall is built.

The sheet rock goes up.

The gaps are filled in with putty.

A shot of the west side foundation.

Colorful Library Plan

2010-12-10T15:49:00.000-06:00

A few library visitors have asked to see a more easily-decipherable plan for the interior of the new building. Your wish is our command! Click on the image below to enlarge it.

Foundation Photos

2010-11-12T09:06:00.000-06:00

These past couple of weeks, the construction crew has been working on the foundation for the new wings. Take a look at the progress below!

The west wing is built up with tightly packed earth.

Concrete is poured for the foundation pillars in the new west wing.

Concrete is poured for the foundation pillars in the new east wing.

Another shot of the west wing.

Check out the story in the Huntsville Item about the renovation progress.

Construction Photos, Plus a Few Notes About Parking

2010-09-30T12:48:00.000-05:00

It's the nature of large projects that things get messier before they get neater. Witness the ongoing construction at the library, and you'll see what I mean. Click on each photo to view it full-size.

So far, the contractor has been working outside only, but that will change soon enough. Then the real excitement begins.

A few notes about parking:

The city has added two handicapped parking spaces along 14th Street. What was before a no parking zone is now reserved for handicapped patrons.
Parking at the church parking lot is only allowed on the South side of the lot. There is an orange line separating the sections to help you determine where you can park.
Remember that the library has implemented a drive-thru service to assist our patrons with getting library materials. You won't need to find a parking space - just call us and tell us what you'd like to check out, and we do the rest. Read more about it here.

Parking

2010-08-24T10:14:00.004-05:00

Parking at the library has become more of an adventure this week, mostly due to the fact that our parking lots now look like this:

The back parking lot of the library is torn up on Tuesday, August 24.

As in most construction projects, the ground is the first thing to be torn up. Parking on the side, front, and back of the library building has been closed for the duration of construction. City staff were able to secure temporary parking elsewhere: on the far side of 14th Street away from the library building, at City Hall, and at St. James United Methodist Church on Avenue M. We hope that these three options will allow citizens to continue visiting the library on a regular basis.

We ask that all library visitors enter the building at 14th Street, regardless of where you park. The back entrance, located by the larger parking lot near the old records building, is now officially a construction zone, and no person may walk through it. This is for your safety.

Due to the parking situation, the library has implemented a drive-thru service. Call the library at 936-291-5472, tell us up to two items you'd like to check out (including DVDs or CDs, specific titles only, no subjects or authors), and we will pull the items for you, check them out to your card, and have them ready for pick-up two hours later. When you drive up to the front door, toot your horn and we will bring your items to you. You must present either your library card or your driver license to receive your items.

Please call us if you have questions about parking or the drive-thru service. We hope to make this exciting project as painless as possible!

A view of the side parking lot being torn up Tuesday morning.

Groundbreaking

2010-08-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

At 5:00 PM yesterday, the library held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the old records building. Many Huntsville citizens braved the heat to attend the ceremony, including the mayor and city council, the city manager, members of the feasibility committee, Library Board and Friends members, and a number of others. Mayor J. Turner and Councilmembers Dalene Zender and Charles Forbus delivered brief remarks before ground was broken. A brief reception - including refreshments - was held inside the library following the ceremony.

Couldn't make it to the ceremony? View the program, click on the photo below to view it full-size (courtesy of photographer Matthew Jackson), or read more about the ceremony in the Huntsville Item. We are now full speed ahead for construction, so make sure to check the library website and the blog frequently for any updates, particularly notices of brief closings or parking interruptions.

Members of the project team, library staff, Friends, Library Board, donors, and feasibility committee break ground at the ceremony.

Interior Design

2010-08-12T10:52:00.001-05:00

The interior design has been finalized! See the images below for the architect's final plan, as well as the artist's rendering of the exterior. Be sure to click on each image to enlarge it. To view an even larger image of the interior design which can be magnified, click the following link to download the .pdf file: Interior Design - Final

Architect's final interior design

Artist's rendering of the exterior of the new library building

Books on the Move

2010-08-05T16:53:00.000-05:00

If you've been to the library within the past two weeks, you may have noticed that some things seem a bit...out of place.

Since the contractor was chosen, library staff and volunteers have been hard at work moving books away from the east wall in preparation for the beginning of construction. Groundbreaking is set for August 17 (date may change), and the first thing to go will be that wall. All the shelves against the wall need to be cleared for that to happen, which means that all children's materials, including young adult, juvenile, easy readers, and picture books, had to be consolidated and moved westward. Staff utilized empty space nearer the middle of the building and crammed those shelves full of books.

The result? An entire wall of empty shelves. The difference is striking! Remember to check the renovation blog and the library website frequently for notices about construction, including any closings.

The books on the east wall...


...were moved westward.

Contractor Chosen for Renovation and Expansion

2010-07-21T11:04:00.001-05:00

At last night's City Council meeting, LDF Construction of Spring, Texas was approved as the contractor for the library's renovation and expansion. LDF Construction is not new to Huntsville projects - they also worked on the HEARTS Veteran's Museum last year.

Construction is still expected to begin in August and will take approximately one year to complete. See the article in the Huntsville Item for more details.

Fire Station Demolition

2010-06-22T16:08:00.000-05:00

The old fire station and EMS building came down today at about 2:30 PM. If you missed all the action, not to worry - we've got lots of photographs below!

The intact fire station as it was just a few hours ago.

The demolition begins behind the library building.

The demolition continues.

A good shot of the inside of the fire station as it's being demolished.

The building collapses.

The view from Avenue M.

Request for Bids

2010-06-16T10:57:00.001-05:00

On June 13, the city of Huntsville officially put out a request for bids. This means that from now until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 7, contractors will be submitting their bids to furnish all plant, labor, materials, and equipment required for the completion of the library's renovation and expansion. On that day, the proposals will be opened and read aloud.

A pre-bid conference will take place on Wednesday, June 23 at 10:00 AM at the city service center. The request for bids was placed in the Sunday issue of the Huntsville Item's Legals section, and will run again on the 20th. Construction is expected to begin late this summer.

Meanwhile, the old records building has been cleared of asbestos, and more trees have been transplanted (see image below).

Save a Tree (or Two)

2010-06-09T10:33:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, the city removed two trees - a crape myrtle and a magnolia - from the library's backyard in preparation for construction. Rather than being chopped down, the trees were transplanted to beautify other city locations. How exactly does that work? Take a look at the photos of the crape myrtle below.

Step One: The tree is dug up and the roots secured with rope.

Step Two: Cones are placed around the tree to separate it from the rest of the lawn.

Step Three: The tree is removed and the hole filled in with dirt.

The magnolia was transplanted in the same way:

Be sure to also check out the mini-story in the Huntsville Item.

Soil and Zoning

2010-06-01T10:31:00.004-05:00

Soil Samples
Remember the soil and vapor samples taken at the library a couple of weeks ago? Terracon Consultants, Inc. completed their analysis some days ago. You can read about the results in an article by the Huntsville Item.

Zoning

On Friday, May 21, the City's Zoning Board of Adjustment held a public meeting to discuss the library's request for a waiver, which was granted. Read more details in an article by the Walker Free Press.

Libraries - Quiet Sanctuaries?

2010-05-04T12:50:00.009-05:00

If you came to the library this morning expecting to get in some quiet study time, you were probably interrupted for a short while by some not-so-quiet noise. Workers drilled six holes at various places within the library and placed tubes down the holes to collect vapor samples. The tubes will remain for a couple of days, and then the samples will be sent to a lab where they will be tested for hydrocarbons.

Luckily, the noise interruptions were brief! We appreciate everyone's patience as the library renovation and expansion gets underway. Today's sample collection will help ensure that no contaminants are released from beneath the building when construction begins in the next few months.

A hole is drilled by the back door.

A hole is drilled on the staff side of the circulation desk.

A tube is inserted into the hole behind the circulation desk to collect vapor samples.

The tube is cut down to size.

Putty is placed around the tube to hold it in place. Six of these tubes were placed in six holes throughout the library.

Geotechnical Work

2010-02-10T12:55:00.004-06:00

This morning, geotechnical engineers brought their drilling rig and dug up parts of our parking lot to take soil samples. Doing this helps the engineers gain an understanding of the earth upon which our new building will rest and assist with the planning of the new building's foundation. Click on each of the images below to enlarge:

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!

2010-01-27T11:04:00.010-06:00

If you've been to see us in the past couple of days, you probably noticed that there has been a lot going on behind the building. Here's some images of all the action! Click on each picture to see it full-size.

Areas of the parking lot were marked off with cones while work went on this Monday the 25th.

The city crew removed some trees from the back area of the building on Monday.

Work crews returned on Tuesday the 26th to continue clearing the area - and they came prepared with trucks to haul everything away.

The area behind the building, near 13th Street, continues to be cleared of trees and brush.

A final shot of the work done on Tuesday.

Renovation Update: 1/25/2010

2010-01-25T11:46:00.008-06:00

The initial phase of the expansion project is underway! You may not see a whole lot of change in the building when you visit us, but there are a few small things of note. Click on each image to enlarge it.

Ribbons have been tied around trees to mark which will be kept or moved.

Notice anything missing? The gazebo has been moved over by City Hall.

Work has begun on 13th Street. The area will be turned into much-needed parking spaces.

Beyond the visible changes, the following has also been accomplished:

Library and city staff members have met with the architects to work on the interior design.

Asbestos consultants have checked for asbestos in the library, the old fire station, and the green building behind the library.

Geotechnical work has been scheduled for the first week in February.

Plans are underway to store the materials in the green building elsewhere for the duration of the construction.

Check back here often for more updates!

Initial Design Concepts

2010-01-25T11:26:00.006-06:00

We've been hard at work on the design of the expanded library. Below are the initial design concepts provided by the architects from Aguirre-Roden. If you can't see the image, click on the link below the image to access each file in .pdf form. The interior design concept has changed significantly, and as soon as we a have a copy on the computer, we'll show you.

Interior

Exterior (Color)

Exterior (Black and White)

If you are having trouble opening the files, it may be because you don't have Adobe Reader, a free piece of software that allows you to view .pdf files. You can download it here: Adobe Reader

The interior has changed a lot from this beginning design. As soon as we have a final design, you'll see it here!

Renovation and Expansion: The Basics

2010-01-25T11:08:00.002-06:00

On November 4, 2009, over 80 percent of the citizens of Huntsville voted to fund the renovation and expansion of Huntsville Public Library. The library building has not been renovated since it was built in 1967.

The $3.5 million bond will more than triple the size of the current library building, increasing the square footage from 7,000 to 22,000. The expanded library will provide a great number of benefits for our community, including:

A total of 81 parking spaces.

Double the amount of shelf space (this means more books, movies, and CDs).

Larger children's and genealogy rooms.

A large meeting room for special programs and events.

More places to study and read.

After the vote, the Huntsville Item ran a story with more details which can be read here. The library bond was also one of the biggest stories of 2009 according to the Item.

Excited? We are too. Check back here frequently for more information, or subscribe to the feed and have all of our posts delivered right to your feed reader. We'll be posting photographs, updated design concepts, and more.

Welcome!

2010-01-22T09:53:00.001-06:00

We're glad you've stopped by! This blog will be THE place to go for the latest information about Huntsville Public Library's biggest and most exciting project - the renovation. Make sure to check back often!

This blog is also a great way to give us feedback on how we're doing. Simply click on the Comments link at the end of this post (or any other post), type what you want to tell us, and we'll read it.