On Monday Gail Pattie, Heather Jenks, Theresa Graham and Dawn McMillan met to discuss progress of the project. The focus for this week has been on the book stock and working out what resources will fit where. THe completion of the relocation of older print journal runs, prior to 1990, from Engineering and move will free up shelving space, these back runs will then be moved into storage in the Law Basement. To help this process, additional crates have been purchased.

At the Project Control Group meeting held on Tuesday it was confirmed that Facilities and the University Architect (Nick Courtney)have looked at all aspects of the building project and agree that the work can be done in the time available. Working backwards from the date of enrolment for 2010, the project team expect that three weeks prior to this date book stock will be able to be relocated to the refurbished Engineering Library.

It was agreed that the work nominated in Phase 1 of the existing plans for the refurbishment of the Engineering Library (updated in 2007) would be completed for the 2010 deadline. This includes redoing the ceilings and lighting, providing more power, working on the radiators, recarpeting the Library, building new toilet facilities on both Level 1 and 2 and moving some of the stack. Originally Stage 1 also included a new lift installation and the building of the fire egress; these aspects have already been completed.

For this work to be completed on time, the building crew will require access to the eastern end of the ground floor, Level 1, in September to undertake preparation work. Further discussions needs to take place to work out how access to study spaces and book stock will be achieved over this period. It was agreed that there could not be any construction or deconstruction noise taking place in either Library over the exam period.

The final meeting for the week for this project was held on Thursday afternoon with the Union. Library representatives from TEU present were Helen Kissell, Caroline Syddall, and Tim O’Sullivan plus Gail Pattie, Dawn McMillan, Chantel Inch (HR) and Heather Jenks met together to discuss the project. Current documentation for the project was tabled and discussed and a verbal update on progress to date.

The current project floor plans, as of April 2007, can be viewed here

Heather Jenks