April 04, 2012
Annex closed for move; all materials still available
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- As work kicks into high gear to move shelving and books from the McLafferty Annex to Morris Library at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the annex is closed to the public but there will continue to be access to all of its materials upon request.
This week, staff from Plant and Service Operations began the very complex and tightly sequenced effort to transfer nearly 1.5 million printed volumes from McLafferty to the renovated and expanded Morris Library, according to David H. Carlson, dean of library affairs. Staff is currently disassembling the shelving at McLafferty and beginning work to box materials in a specific and orderly fashion. To assure the safety of all and to enable the work to move along as efficiently and quickly as possible, there will no longer be public access to the annex, Carlson said.
The materials were moved to the annex a few years ago to facilitate the library expansion and renovation project. The public has had half-day access to print items at the annex and people could also submit requests and pick materials up at the library. Carlson said a very small number of people, typically in the single digits, came to the annex themselves to pick up items, so he expects minimal inconvenience.
As work is under way to disassemble the shelving at McLafferty, crews are also busy installing rails in the lower level of Morris Library for the shelving units. That level of the library has remained closed to the public since the renovation/expansion so nothing is changing there, Carlson said.
While materials at McLafferty Annex are no longer available for browsing, you may still request both books and print journals. Deliveries of requested items come to the circulation desk at Morris Library at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday. To initiate a request, go online to http://www.lib.siu.edu/footer-portlets/services/mclafferty-storage-retrieval.
People should make requests at least two hours before a scheduled delivery time. Although online requests are preferable, you may also call the circulation desk at 618/453-1159 or visit the library for assistance in securing a stored item. Carlson said staff will also make every effort to help those who are in need of browsing multiple books on a specific topic as well.
Officials estimate it will take approximately eight months to complete the move of all shelving and materials from McLafferty Annex to Morris Library.