Progress reports

Most recent update

19/10/05 Library manager's report
The internal refurbishment of the library is now substantially complete and the new facilities are proving very popular. Wireless can be accessed throughout the library and some seats offer desktop power. Photocopying is centrally located on all three floors.

New furniture has been supplied throughout the library, including casual seating areas on all floors. Seating capacity has increased by more than 20% to 970 seats. Signage is being designed and will be installed over the next two weeks. Shelf ends are being prepared for new flat A4 Dewey number guides.

“Homage to Lawrence Hargrave”, the ceramic mural by John Perceval, has been rehung in the new entrance. It was displayed in the library from its official opening in 1962 until it was removed for conservation work in 1999. Other art works selected by the staff of the Monash Museum of Art are being installed around the library.

Landscaping the area around the library will commence on November 5th and should be completed in December. An official opening of the library is planned for November.

The external after hours return chute has been relocated to the new entrance and is in use. A casual seating area has been created in the former entrance area and additional study places supplied at north and south ends of the floor for quieter study. Express computers allowing access to catalogue and databases are located in the central area. There are 9 PCs in total.

The computer access area has 72 computer workstations set up to access all library resources along with network access and Microsoft Office. There are an additional 20 PCs in the new training area which are also available when training is not being delivered. 12 Express computers for accessing the catalogue and databases are available in the main area and five more in the new open access reserve area.

The bridge that formerly linked the first floor to Building 19 has been removed. Windows looking onto Science Walk have been created in the library and Building 19.

Redesigned displays for new books and new journals have been installed with adjacent casual seating for browsers. A remodelled reference section with low rise shelves assists users to navigate the first floor. The information desk has been replaced with two brightly coloured and conspicuous ‘pods’ that match those in use in the new loans area. A plasma screen has been installed near the information pods to assist in communication with users entering the library.

There remains only the small discussion room (next to the conference room) to be completed; this has been delayed as it is being used by the contractors. There are 16 Express computers allowing access to catalogue and databases in two clusters on this floor and numerous seating areas for formal and more casual study.

Previous updates

24/06/05 Project manager's update
The new library entrance will open on 27 June and the old entrance will be closed off. The John Perceval sculpture, Homage to Sir Lawrence Hargrave - an original artwork designed for the Hargrave Library - will be installed during the mid year break. The new loans, reserve and student PC areas on level 1 will also be open on this date. Landscaping will progress throughout July and may cause some disruption at the entrance though this will be kept to an absolute minimum. Completion of the project is now scheduled for mid-August.

Ground floor

• The new entrance will open from 27 June and the old entrance will be closed off on the same date. The walk-way from building 19 will be removed during July. Shelving and furniture will be rearranged to their final locations by mid-August.
• The after hours return chutes will be relocated at the new entrance from its opening on 27 June.

Level one

• The new open reserve area will open along with the loans area on 27 June.
• The eastern section of the first floor adjacent to the new entry will be available with 32 new computer workstations on 27 June.
• The central floor area will be renovated throughout July and should be available early August. This area will contain the information desk, IT training room, computer workstations and print stations.

Level two

• Most areas on this level have been completed, with the exception of a small area of wall above the new entry and some lighting. This will be completed by mid-August. The information desk is temporarily located on this floor and will be moved to level one by early August.

06/05/2005 Library manager's report
The project remains on track for completion by July. The new entrance is expected to be completed in late May. A striking feature of the entrance area will be the return of the John Perceval sculpture which was commissioned for the Hargrave Library in 1962. The sculpture is currently being restored by the Monash University Museum of Art. Landscaping plans for the area include increased outdoor seating for the cafe, wider pathways and low rise walls for additional casual seating.

Ground floor

The major part of the journal collection is now in this area - there will be some minor rearrangement when the wall between the library and the existing foyer is removed to create a new seating area but this will not commence until the new entrance is available. Two new benches for express computer terminals have been installed - there will be four computers in the northern wing and five centrally situated next to the refurbished photocopying area.

Level one

• Parts of level one will be closed for stage three of the project. As a result, the Information Desk will temporarily move to level two along with most of the computers and the network printers.
• The reference collection has been temporarily relocated to the northern end of the floor near the new Map Room so access can be maintained in this period.
• The new loans and reserve area will shortly become available (mid-May) and the temporary loans and reserve area dismantled.
• The eastern part of the first floor will also soon be available and will house 32 new computer workstations and additional study places.

Level two

Work on level two of the library is now largely complete and the advantages of the redesign can be seen in the more open and accessible layout with full advantage being taken of the large south facing windows to bring natural light into study areas. Bright colours highlighting computer access and photocopying areas assist in navigating the area.

• The stairs to level two at the eastern end of the library will remain closed until the area it leads to has been completed later this month.
• As noted above, the Information Desk and additional computers will be temporarily located on level two. The computers will be served by the network printers that will also be temporarily relocated here.

22/02/05 Library manager's report
Good progress has been made on the refurbishment over the long vacation but there remains a considerable amount of work to do before the projected completion date in July 2005. This will have some impact on facilities and user accommodation during first semester but access to the collection will be maintained and temporary seating arrangements are available.

New entrance

The new entrance adjacent to the cafeteria is taking shape with the main structure, roof and lift shaft in place. We look forward to it coming into service in April.

Ground floor

• Shelving in the serials collection area has been increased. This will accommodate the relocation of serials in the 621-999 range (currently on the first floor). This is a complex process as both the shelving and the serial volumes have to be moved. During the rearrangement parts of the collection will be on trolleys but staff can assist in locating materials. Some older serial runs and some titles available in permanent electronic archives have been transferred to storage.
• A new photocopying area is being set-up near the existing facility.
• There will be some construction work to integrate the existing ground floor foyer into the library but this will be done later in the project.

Level one

• Most of the new staff offices on level one have been completed and occupied (the Library Manager's office remains in its temporary location on the second floor until April).
• The new Map Room has been constructed and occupied in the northern end of the building.
• The book returns and discharge area, the loans desk and the reserve collection have been temporarily relocated. This will allow for the construction of the new loans area and expanded open access reserve collection. Work in this area has required modification to the library entrance and access to the first floor extension is through a temporary passage adjacent to the existing entrance. It has also meant that access from Building 19 has been closed off and the bridge will serve only as an emergency exit/entrance. The old loans area and adjacent areas have been partitioned off to allow for refurbishment and for the construction of the new entrance.

Level two

• The most striking new feature on this level is the bridge across the stairwell and the remodelling of the study areas and rearrangement of shelving which has created a single aisle running the north-south length of the building. This makes the space much more easily navigable.
• New workstations and some casual seating have been installed in the extension at the southern end of the building and this area now gives some indication of what the rest of the library will look like when the refurbishment is complete.
• A new more central photocopying area has been established near the stairs.
• Additional shelving has been erected in the second floor serials area. The range housed there now is 001-540.5 I85.
• Work is continuing in what were the discussion rooms to create an open plan study area and to take maximum advantage of the natural light. Access from the eastern stairway (near the old map room) to this area has been closed off temporarily.
• The main stairway which was partitioned off by the builders is now available.
• The IT training Room which was used as temporary offices is now in use again.

26/10/04 Library manager's report
The first stage of the building work in the library has now commenced. On the first floor this involves staff offices which are being transformed into a more open plan layout. On the second floor various areas have been partitioned off and occupied by the builders. These include areas that were used for monograph shelving, some of the discussion rooms and the photocopying room. A number of the stairways have been temporarily blocked off for safety reasons. However all of the collection remains accessible and the photocopiers and examination papers have been relocated. To reach monographs in the first part of the Dewey sequence (000-617.59) it is necessary to use the north-west staircase near the current serials display; the rest of the sequence (617.6-999) is accessed from the eastern stairway near the map room. This stairway also leads to the relocated examination papers, photocopiers and remaining discussion rooms. To move from one area to another it is necessary to return to the first floor.

Temporary signage has been erected to assist users and staff are familiar with the temporary layout and will be pleased to assist all users. As the lift opens into building areas its use has been restricted for safety reasons; any access issues that result from this should be referred to staff who will resolve the matter.

Work required in the stairwell will require parts of the entrance area to be isolated, access to the library will be maintained by a temporary passageway through the work area. External work on the new entrance is expected to commence shortly when the steel for the construction is delivered.

17/09/04 Library manager's report
The Syncon Group have been appointed as the building company for the Hargrave-Andrew Library refurbishment project. This company built the Hargrave-Andrew Library extension in 2001/2 and have also completed a number of other projects for the university. Syncon will shortly begin construction of a compound to accommodate site sheds and other facilities. This will be located in front of the Hargrave Cafe. Access to the cafe will be maintained throughout and a pathway around the compound will be established to maintain access to and from the library and Science Walk. Construction of the new library entrance is scheduled to commence on October 12. Completion of the entire building project is scheduled for early June 2005.

31/08/04 Library manager's report
The book moves required for the first stage of the refurbishment have been completed and the temporary locations signed. Library attendants are familiar with the temporary layout and are ready to assist anyone to locate shifted materials. The rearrangement has involved the temporary loss of some study areas. Study tables have been relocated to the first and ground floors. On Wednesday 1st September many library staff offices will be vacated. Staff will be temporarily accommodated in the IT training room and the adjacent discussion room. The loans and information desks will not be affected.

A display has been set-up in the library with details of the refurbishment, floor plans, and a colour palette illustrating the materials and finishes that will be used.

23/08/04 Project manager's update
Atlantis Relocations P/L commenced moving the book collection on Thursday 26 August. Approximately half the collection is being relocated to its final destination with the remainder to temporary storage located throughout level 2. Some minor disruption may occur during this move though all of the collection will remain available to users. Temporary signs will direct users to new locations or enquire at the Information desk for details.

15/08/04 Project manager's update
Most aspects of planning and documentation have now been finalised for the refurbishment project. Requests for tender for construction have been issued and close late August, with construction scheduled to commence during September 2004. A new update will be issued shortly after construction commences.

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