Mike Wolanin | The Republic Personnel from Jack Laurie Team eliminate carpet about the circulation desk at the Bartholomew County Community Library in Columbus, Ind., Monday, March 13, 2023. The carpet and tile flooring at the library are currently being replaced.
The Bartholomew County Public Library has reopened next a brief closure for flooring substitution that marked the get started of a 7-month task.
The closure, which lasted from March 6 to March 10, is predicted to be the only time the overall library shuts down throughout the constructing-huge endeavor, mentioned library Director Jason Hatton. Nevertheless, lesser, departmental closures are anticipated to occur during the system, which has an approximated September completion date.
“Things really went very very well previous week, and we’re off to a great start this week,” mentioned Hatton.
The entrance entryway has been completed, and reduce-level places in close proximity to the staircase and elevator have been tiled. Staff also removed floor tiles from the team home because of to concerns about the feasible presence of asbestos and are now positioning new tile in the space.
Function is heading on in entrance of the circulation desk as effectively. Contractors have ripped up the carpet and are “grinding down the adhesive,” he mentioned.
As a result, the circulation desk has been briefly moved to reverse facet of the entrance entryway. It is now on the still left of these getting into the creating and will continue to be there right until the tile is completed. Library employees are hopeful that tiling in this place will start these days.
“The primary staircase is inaccessible at this time, but flooring are simple to navigate using the elevator or staircases exterior to the building,” library team shared.
Thanks to some materials arriving faster than envisioned, work on the again staircase might start future week or the week just after, mentioned Hatton.
Additionally, the flooring job is predicted to lead to closures of different library departments in the coming months.
“Those’ll just be piece by piece as we transfer by way of,” stated Hatton. “And we’ll make certain that as those people departments are shut, we will have type of important services from people departments with some, however some elements and assistance points to be equipped to however make positive we’re serving the general public.”
The rough plan of these closures is as follows:
- Large print and graphic novels — Could
- Children’s office — June
- Nonfiction parts — July
- Fiction — August
- DVDs — September
The believed cost of the job is roughly $800,000. This includes $550,000 for the flooring deal, as properly as other charges this kind of as transferring bookcases, building administration, contingency charges and acoustic operate.
He explained that the span of the flooring project is in depth, with “every single flooring surface” in the library set to be current.
“We just talk to men and women to bear with us, and it’s going to be gorgeous when it is performed,” reported Hatton.
