Johns Hopkins Gazette: September 9, 1996

On Campus:
Eisenhower Library
Open As Demolition
Proceeds

Steve Libowitz
Editor
In the year of the hardhat, the worst is here.

But it will only get better--if slowly--as the Milton S. Eisenhower Library renovations kick into high gear just as the fall semester gets under way.

"Our goal is to create a renovated library to serve the needs of our faculty and students more effectively," says the library's Sheridan Director Jim Neal. "One that can take advantage of electronic and telecommunications developments."

Over the summer, the major effort was asbestos abatement. With that mostly completed, the effort now turns to demolition of M level, the main entranceway to the library. Beginning last week, and scheduled to last through September, walls will be knocked down and space will be cleared to make way for a new Electronic Resource Center--which will be the first thing people will see upon entering the renovated space. The areas for general reference, current periodicals, librarian offices and the circulation desk also will be refurbished. The Interlibrary Loan department will move from the west side to the east side of M-level and the Reserve Room will be combined with the new circulation area so that students can more conveniently use reserve materials anywhere in the library.

That's all expected to be completed by mid-March. Until then, there will be a lot of papers researched and written, articles authored and information sought. While renovations will make achieving these goals challenging, the library staff is prepared to make it as workable as possible.

Getting to the resources: The Interlibrary Loan and the Reserve Departments are temporarily in the Garrett Room on Q-level.

The Research Consultation Office, Information Desk, the general reference collection and subject specialist librarians are located on the south end of A-level. Additional quiet study and reading space has been made available by the Auxiliary Enterprises and Marriott Corporation in the Levering Market, Sundays through Thursdays, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Getting around: From the guard's desk on M-level, look for the signs, which feature "Norman Nailer," the renovations mascot. Or ask the guard. Although you may be somewhat disoriented as you search for your final destination, you may discover interesting pockets of the library that you never knew existed.

Getting information: So the library is somewhat frenetic, but you need information promptly. Reference questions can be e-mailed to research@milton.mse.jhu.edu or they can be called in, at (410)516-8335. To access the library's catalog (and other library-related information), cruise Milton's Web--the library's Web site--at http://milton.mse.jhu.edu:8001.

Getting some peace and quiet: It's going to be a bit noisy in the Eisenhower Library for a while. The most quiet times will be anytime on weekends and weekdays after 3:30 p.m.

Getting in and out: The Eisenhower Library is open seven days a week: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight.

So don't be afraid. Come to the library. A hardhat is not required. Only persistence. And patience.


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