More library restorations to begin this summer

Restorations to the Farley Library will take place over the summer. The restorations will include the first floor and will give the library an fresher look and be more accessible for students.

The renovation includes new carpets, new walls, new ceilings and new lighting. There also are plans for major renovation to the main entrance way.

Project Manager Paul Kaspriskie explained that things are still in the design phase. He said that as far as what things will look like, it’s expected that the walls, ceilings and floors will resemble the new design in the basement.

“When people walk through the front doors, the setup will look very similar,” said Farley library dean John Stachacz. “However, the design will be more up-to-date and modernized.”

Stachacz said that the hallmark of the project is the renovation to the main entrance doorway.

One of the biggest issues at the library are the heavy doors. The renovation includes replacing the doors with an electronic version, as well as adding a ramp for wheelchair accessibility.

“We are compliant with the disability act regulations; however, we need to update it to modern day perspectives,” said Stachacz. “We want to make things more accessible for everyone. Everyone should be able to come in through those front doors.”

The team is also looking into making other resources the library has to offer more handicap accessible. Kaspriskie explained that there are also plans to renovate the main desk to cater to everyone’s needs.

“We want to put a lower area at the main desk where someone in a wheelchair can pull up and have the desktop available to them as well,” said Kaspriskie.

Stachacz said that the plans aren’t to duplicate the design of the basement. He explained that the first floor will be used for more individual work, while the basement was designed for group work.

“The plan is to make each floor a different learning niche for every student’s taste,” said Stachacz. “The higher you go on the floors, the quieter things will get.”

Another goal of the renovation is to do some combining and reconfiguring in order to open up more space on the floor, de-cluttering and area and making it more work-friendly.

“A lot of things are going electronically and replacing the print. We’re trying to remove some stacks and weed out all those print sources that aren’t necessarily needed anymore,” said Stachacz.