Cornell University Library Staff Web

The life safety phase of Olin renovation is substantially complete and I am pleased to report that late last week the University’s Capital Planning Group approved our moving forward to renovate and refurbish much of the second floor (rooms 218 and 234) as well as the 501 suite. If all goes according to plan, we would start construction in late spring of 2012 with completion and occupancy in the spring of 2013. This project will convert staff surge space on the southeast end of the 2nd floor, created during the fire safety project, into permanent office space for library staff, which in turn will free up space on the west end of the 5th floor for a graduate student research and study area. An additional conference/meeting room on the 2nd floor is also part of the program. Over the past four months the Library, working with HOLT Architects and university facilities staff, developed a feasibility study that looked at construction costs and project code requirements for this renovation. We are very pleased that HOLT Architects will be able to continue to lead the design effort for this project. The Olin Space Planning Committee (Lee Cartmill, Michelle Eastman, John Hoffmann, Phil Koons, Pat Schafer, and Kornelia Tancheva) will continue to serve as the steering committee and are currently working to finalize the building program for this project. 

2011 marks the 11th anniversary of the student reading project. This afternoon, many library staff members will lead small group discussions on this year’s book, Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow. But library staff have been involved in the reading project in many other ways, as they have over the life of the program. Since its second year, Carla DeMello has been creating the project posters, which grace the presidents’ suite in Day Hall, as well as the website look and feel. Lance Heidig has been instrumental in providing content for the project—from helping to draft the study questions to preparing interactive content sections on the website, to blogging and authoring the Reading Project’s Facebook fan page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cornell-University-New-Student-Reading-Project/108753425842247?ref=search. Others have contributed content too, and in past years, various had also mounted exhibits in conjunction with different reads. In recognition of the close relationship between the Library and the Reading Project, Vice Provost Laura Brown had this to say: “The New Student Book Project has again provided our entering students with a perspective on intellectual engagement, and on the range of academic pursuits at Cornell. I think our students got a lot out of reading and learning about Homer and Langley. I’m eager to acknowledge the key role of our Library colleagues in this activity, and to thank you all for your support. The Book Project depends on your generous contributions, and we are very aware of the connection between the ‘book’ as an emblematic kick-off for the new students’ experience and the Library where they will find their own immediate connections to the books, studies, and thinking of their Cornell years.”

Have a healthy and productive week,

Anne R. Kenney
Carl A. Kroch University Librarian
Cornell University Library
201 Olin Library
Ithaca, NY 14853-5301
Tel. 607-255-3393
ark3@cornell.edu

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