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Hale Library Blog

Hale Library: A new chapter begins now

Posted on by Cailin Riley

On June 19, 2018, we shared the very first post on this blog.

The post, titled “After the Hale Library Fire: What’s past is prologue,” detailed the devastation of the building after employees reported seeing smoke and alarms started blaring. The first photos we shared of the damage included firefighters crawling on ladders and walking through doorways venting smoke, water pooled on the floor and sagging ceilings and light fixtures.

It has now been three years since the fire on May 22, 2018. This blog has allowed us to share our journey of recovery, renovation and restoration with the K-State and library communities both near and far. We will never forget the generosity and outpouring of support as we worked to rebuild and create a next-generation library.

A gif of the first floor from 2018 and 2021.
The first floor area near Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café looked very different back in 2018 following the fire. In the background, you can see the stairwell leading to the second floor.
A gif of the second floor commons from 2018 and 2021.
The second floor commons, littered with debris in 2018 versus today. Today, the space is filled with 99 computers, including Macs and PCs.

Some of the most heart-breaking photos captured include Dean of Libraries Lori Goetsch and President Richard Myers surveying the damage. At the time, many had hoped the damage wasn’t too severe. But upon touring the interior of the library, it became devastatingly clear that Hale Library, viewed as a second home for many, had been gutted.

A gif of the second floor of Historic Farrell Library from 2018 and 2021.
The second floor of Historic Farrell Library has been completely restored to retain its original beauty and has also been turned into study space for students due to its abundance of beautiful natural light. 

The loss to the K-State and Manhattan community was tangible and instantaneously noticeable. In addition to losing a physical place to study, students, staff and faculty suddenly found themselves having to adjust to a new learning environment.

A gif showing the Great Room in 2018 and 2021.
The 2018 fire damaged the Great Room roof; water damage warped the original wooden tables, which were eventually replaced. The bookshelves surrounding the room were professionally repaired and refinished.
A gif showing the Great Room ceiling in 2018 and 2021.
In addition to fixing the damage done to the Great Room architecture itself, art conservators worked on the four murals for months to bring their luster back.

Questions soon arose, such as “Where do we work now? And can we do our jobs well in a different setting?” “Where can I study on campus now, and how can I still access the research resources I need?”

We were faced with a riddle we never thought we’d have to answer: What is a library without its brick and mortar?

The answer, it turned out, is complicated.

While a library is more than just a building, with its staff, services and collections, we quickly found that not having a physical location comes with many challenges. More than 80 Libraries staff and faculty were left without office spaces and had to relocate to temporary workspaces across campus. In addition to shifting services to operate outside of Hale Library, staff also had the monumental task of cleaning, storing, sorting and reshelving more than 1.5 million items in the building’s physical collection.

A major silver lining of having to renovate an entire library is that it allowed leadership and the community to alter the vision of the future Hale Library and design features that would help fulfill this vision.

A gif showing the fourth floor in 2018 and 2021.
The fourth floor of Hale Library was renovated to include better lighting, study spaces, streamlined walkways and more browsable shelving.

When Hale Library reopened the first through fourth floors in February 2021, students discovered more functional study spaces and collaboration areas than ever before. The Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab is on track to give students a new way to learn and explore that they won’t find anywhere else in the community.

Above all, the campus has its heart back. Hale Library stands as a welcoming, safe place for students and community members to come together, study and explore learning opportunities.

We want to thank you for following the journey of Hale Library and the many people who are a part of this community through this blog. While a challenging time in the history of K-State Libraries and the overall university community, the support of students, staff, faculty, alumni and the surrounding community has continuously blown us away with their tenacity to inspire change and love for the library.

This blog will be archived so that future K-Staters and other interested parties, including historians, can have a place to research and reflect on the efforts to renovate a major academic building on a university campus. The K-State community can still watch our stories unfold by following us on our social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and most recently, TikTok.

A gif showing the fifth floor in 2018 and 2021.
The fifth floor of the library, dedicated to Special Collections and dozens of faculty and staff workspaces, has been turned into a more organized, well-lit space.

While this chapter of Hale Library’s story has come to an end, a new chapter is just beginning. This fall, as K-State plans to return to normal operations following the pandemic, students and the community will once again have access to a full library and all the supports that come with it. A new dean, Dr. Joe Mocnik, will soon join us to help build upon the amazing legacy Lori Goetsch leaves behind this month as she retires.

What’s past is prologue. It’s time to turn the page and start our new story.

 

Sprint to the finish line! Finals Week in Hale Library

Posted on by Cailin Riley

It’s finals week at K-State, and in Hale Library, study spaces are filling up!

For the first time since the fire, students prepping for final exams and projects are able to use nearly the entire building to study. In addition to the popular collaboration rooms and moveable white boards on the first floor, students have made use of the second floor computer commons, study nooks and tables on the third and fourth floors and the extra collaboration rooms on the upper floors.

We stopped to (quickly!) chat with a few students studying in the library to hear about how their week is going and how the Libraries have helped support their success.

Taylor Stephens, a sophomore studying biology, made use of the comfortable soft seating on the second floor. “I like how they have a café now, because it can give you that little boost of energy with coffee or a snack.”
Joshua East, a senior studying kinesiology, said Hale Library “is a good alternative place to study. Most of my classes are online, so I spend a lot of time at home usually, but it gets me on campus and gives me a quiet place to study.”
Alexis Cushshon, a senior majoring in architectural engineering, said she likes the Libraries course reserves program, which allows students to borrow textbooks for specific courses. “I like that Hale Library has free access to textbooks, allowing me to save money.”
Earlier in the week, night operations associate Steve Greinke handed out goodie bags to students studying and working late in Hale Library. Thank you to Cats for Clean Air and K-State Counseling Services for helping us create these awesome goodie bags!
Emmett Lockridge, a second year in interior architecture, said he appreciates the quiet atmosphere Hale Library offers. “I like how quiet it’s been. It’s been nice for me to focus.”
Students studying in one of the first floor collaboration rooms grabbed some Finals Week goodie bags before getting back to business.

Thank you to all the students who took a little break to chat with us, and to our staff and faculty for making finals week a little brighter for our students.

Congratulations to all those graduating this week! We wish you all the best in your next chapter.

Staff and faculty: We’re back home!

Posted on by Cailin Riley

As students begin the mad rush to prep for finals week, we took a moment to stop and chat with a few of our staff and faculty who have moved into their new spaces.

Some staff members, particularly those with Library User Services, have been based in Hale Library since last fall to assist with patrons. However, since the upper floors of the building opened in February, more staff and faculty have moved into their new offices.

Everyone is thrilled to be back working with colleagues and students in the same space again!

Stephanie Kiersey, user services specialist, said that it has been nice to see her coworker’s spaces get filled with personal items, adding personality. “Your coworkers make the space,” she said. “Even though I’ve been here since August, it feels more like home when students and other staff are around.”
Jason Coleman, head of Library User Services, said that he’s a fan of the renovated building, and that he can’t wait for more students to explore. “It has a wealth of different types of spaces; students can gravitate toward whatever type of study space they need. It’s exciting to see more students studying together and finding their new favorite study spots.”
Jesica Sellers, maintenance and repair technician, said that the loading dock at Hale Library has been a real game changer for how Building Services is able to do their work. “After the fire, we were located on the second floor of Dykstra Hall. One of the challenges we faced over there was that we didn’t have access to an elevator and so we had to haul many boxes of all sizes up and down the stairs multiple times a day. Having access to Hale Library’s loading dock has been a huge improvement in both ease of work and efficiency.”

Some staff and faculty mentioned that they feel centered being back in the building, and that it’s easier to coordinate and focus on tasks when they have a dedicated space to do so. Many joked about how after a year of attempting to work with kids and pets jumping on them at home, getting back to the office couldn’t come soon enough!

Tara Coleman, web services librarian and the coordinator for the Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies, is excited to soon begin to flesh out the center’s second floor space, which will provide a welcoming space for students, faculty and staff to explore human diversity. “The DOW area is so accessible now; it’s a clean slate,” Coleman said. “I have so many ideas, and I can’t wait to make it a place where different groups can showcase their work.”
Kimberlie Bugbee, user services specialist an alumnae of K-State, said she has a lot of memories of Hale Library, and therefore it means a lot to her to see current students enjoying the historic spaces. “There is a sense of excitement,” she said. “It’s great to see students collaborating together and making use of the space.”
“In our field, problem solving is important, and so it’s been much easier to work together when we’re all in the same room,” said Renee Gates, IT coordinator, about being back in the library. “And having fast internet doesn’t hurt either,” added Derek Cox, IT support specialist II.  
Katie Lynn, acquisitions librarian, said that moving back into the renovated building provided a unique opportunity for metadata, preservation and acquisitions staff. “Ironically, our department got closer and worked more cohesively after the fire because we ended up all in Unger Hall together,” she said. “When we came back to Hale Library, we got to choose our pods in a way that allowed us to stay connected and keep workflows that we established while at Unger.”

While not everyone has returned to in person work yet, we are so excited to have many staff and faculty back in Hale Library working and interacting with each other on a regular basis. Nothing quite beats a friendly staff member when you walk in the door!

Welcome to the Innovation Lab!

Posted on by Cailin Riley

Last week, the first phase of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab opened. K-State Libraries and the Division of Information Technology have been working together to bring this dream to life over the past few years. We are very excited to see students and staff in the new space!

A picture of the glass entrance of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.
The Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab will open in phases; the lab is scheduled to fully open this fall.

The first phase includes the opening of the media studio and equipment checkout areas. The media studio, located on the first floor of the lab, includes Macs and PCs with the Adobe Creative suite and video editing software. The space also includes large format scanning. At the equipment checkout desk on the second floor, K-State students and staff can currently borrow items such as laptops, projectors, cameras and cell phone tripods.

Both spaces are currently operating under special COVID-19 protocols. Computers are spaced out for social distancing and some equipment is not available for checkout.

A picture of student workers at the equipment checkout desk.
Friendly student workers at the second floor equipment checkout can help K-State students and staff borrow the technology they need for projects.
A picture of the media studio, filled with computers.
The media studio includes several Macs and PCs with a variety of special software, including the Adobe Creative Suite.

This is just the first phase of several installments of advanced technology. When the Innovation Lab fully opens next fall, K-Staters will have access to even more awesome areas, including makerspaces, video production studios, a virtual reality room and more.

A picture of the lab's low-tech makerspace.
This area, not yet open, will become the low-tech makerspace. The space will feature sewing machines, maker kits, soldering irons and a variety of hand tools, including hammers, drills and other building supplies.
A picture of the first floor of the lab, with a window in the background that shows bookshelves.
Through the Innovation Lab’s first floor window, you can see books filling the shelves of the Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room.

The Innovation Lab is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and all are welcome to come explore the space. Knowledgeable staff are available to help answer questions and direct patrons to resources.

We also want to remind our readers that you are invited to join us on April 15 at 6:30 p.m. for the Tale of Hale, a virtual ribbon cutting and official re-opening celebration of Hale Library. This storytelling event will feature narration by proud K-Staters, including Dean of Libraries Lori Goetsch and K-State President Richard Myers.

You can RSVP online for this event at ksufoundation.org/rsvp/libraries/ or by calling (785)775-2040. The viewing link and details will be sent following your registration.

The perfect study spot

Posted on by Cailin Riley

Now that floors 1 through 4 of Hale Library have officially been open to the public for more than a month, students and community members are getting more familiar with the new spaces and finding their perfect study spots.

A picture of Zixuan Wang.
Zixuan Wang, a vet student in her second year, said that she loves the collaboration rooms and technology. “My favorite is this big monitor and the study room,” she said. “And I like that it’s quiet, it’s spacious, it’s bright…it’s perfect, I think.”
A picture of Josh Morgan in one of the study rooms.
Josh Morgan, a senior studying kinesiology, said he appreciates the variety of different study spaces. “You have the study rooms, you can have sessions by the whiteboards, you have the other side where there are walls and comfy chairs…basically whatever you think is best for your studying is here.”
A picture of Brooke Crawford studying the the second floor living room area.
Brooke Crawford a sophomore studying kinesiology, prepares for an upcoming exam in the bright living room area on the second floor.
A picture of Kinde Ketema.
Kinde Ketema, a graduate student studying agronomy, said that the renovation far exceeded his expectations. “I love the Libraries…I love these study rooms. With the renovation, the library looks pretty nice. And everything is like, completely different now. It’s amazing.”

We’re especially excited about the opening of the Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room on the first floor of Historic Farrell Library. This space features the juvenile literature and curriculum materials collections and offers plenty of seating for study purposes.

A picture of full shelves in the Family Reading Room.
The Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room on the first floor of Historic Farrell Library offers visitors a naturally bright and open space to browse children’s literature and curriculum materials.

Current periodicals are also now available for browsing on the second floor of Historic Farrell Library in room 240. Items from the juvenile literature and curriculum materials collections can be checked out, but current periodicals may only be browsed.

In other exciting news, the media studio and equipment checkout are scheduled to open to the public the first week of April in the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab. This is just the first phase of several installments of advanced technology including makerspaces, video production studio, virtual reality room and more. The Innovation Lab is scheduled to be fully open next fall.

A picture of the current periodicals space.
Current periodicals, including scholarly journals and trade publications, are available for patrons to browse on the second floor of Historic Farrell Library. The room can be accessed from the west side of the building.

We also want to invite fans of the K-State Libraries to join us on April 15 at 6:30 p.m. for the Tale of Hale, a virtual ribbon cutting and official re-opening celebration of Hale Library. This storytelling event will feature narration by proud K-Staters, including Dean of Libraries Lori Goetsch and K-State President Richard Myers.

A graphic promoting the Tale of Hale event.

You can RSVP online for this event at ksufoundation.org/rsvp/libraries/ or by calling (785)775-2040. The viewing link and details will be sent following your registration.

Even better, as a special thank you for attending the Tale of Hale, you will receive a commemorative bookmark! (Everybody needs more bookmarks.)

We can’t wait to celebrate our new, 21st century, next-generation library with you!

Gallons and semi-trucks: Fun stats from Hale Library’s renovation

Posted on by Cailin Riley

Now that floors 1-4 of Hale Library are open to the public and more and more books are returning to the building, we wanted to take a look back at the enormous project of renovating K-State’s most beloved five-story behemoth.

K-State Libraries worked with Hutton construction company for more than 24 months to renovate Hale Library from top to bottom. The first floor was completed and opened to the public in 2019, with the second floor following in summer of 2020 after the pandemic hit. But even with that challenge, construction on the library continued diligently, and it has been a wonder to see how much has changed in the past two years.

BELFOR staff work on moving juvenile materials onto shelves in Hale Library room 140.
This week, our friends at BELFOR started moving juvenile literature and the curriculum materials collection into room 140, the future Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room. Staff have also started moving the current periodicals from the Math/Physics Library to Hale Library’s second floor reading room.

The entire Hale Library renovation required more than 60 different types of trades, from painting and lighting, to plumbing and wood restoration, and even architecture design and inspection services. It is estimated that an average of 60 crew members over the 24 months it took to complete the project worked more than 250,000 hours. Imagine spending that much time on a single project! (Whew!)

A picture of the entrance to the Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room.
The entrance to the Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room on the first floor of Historic Farrell Library, as it looked earlier last month.

It took 6 full semi-trucks to deliver the carpet tile from Georgia to Manhattan. More than 226,000 square feet of carpet was installed and more than 664 gallons of adhesive was used to adhere the carpet to the floors!

Three different painters worked on the library and they estimate that they used somewhere between 5,000 and 5,500 gallons of paint to complete the building. That’s a lot of royal purple paint!

A picture of the second floor entrance to the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.
The second floor entrance to the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab has a glass entrance, and late last month, film was applied for the sign. The Innovation Lab is not yet open to the public as it is still undergoing construction.

The construction crew also had some help from former and current K-State students. Six K-State interior design graduates helped work on the Hale Library project. Many thanks to Jennifer Talley, Lara Rassette, Amy Pile, Andrea Brundis, Natalie Kemp and Kaitlyn Guerreiro for using their skills to help out their alma mater! In addition, a K-State intern on the project was hired full-time as a field engineer during the project. Way to go, ‘Cats!

A picture of the third floor event gallery space with new soft seating.
The new gallery space on the third floor, located just outside of the Great Room, now has soft seating for visitors and those studying.

If you have yet to explore the new Hale Library, we invite you to come visit, view the beautiful Great Room and browse the books back on the shelves. Any books currently on the shelves are available to be checked out and there are multiple study spaces for students and visitors spread out throughout the first four floors of the building. In addition, visitors can view the historic architecture of Historic Farrell Library or grab a cup of coffee and a snack at Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café.

We hope to see you soon!

Time to explore the new Hale Library!

Posted on by Cailin Riley

It’s a big week for Hale Library and K-State! On Monday we opened several new spaces including the third and fourth floors and two floors of Historic Farrell Library. This means nearly all of the first through fourth floors are now open to the public.

Despite the recent freezing temperatures and a campus closure on Tuesday due to rolling blackouts, students braved the Kansas tundra on Wednesday to explore the new spaces Hale Library has to offer. Beautiful, historic spaces such as the Great Room seem to be very popular so far of course, but many students have taken to exploring the more hidden nooks and crannies of the upper floors in search of the perfect, quiet study spot.

A picture of the first floor café area, filled with students.
The seating area near Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café on the first floor has become a popular meeting spot for students to catch up and grab a coffee or some snacks.

While construction is complete on most of the building, some spaces, including the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab and the fifth floor, are currently closed to the public. The Innovation Lab will open in phases later this spring.

This semester, visitors and students will have a variety of new spaces to explore in the building.

A picture of Remas Alzubaidi, a sophomore studying architectural engineering.
Remas Alzubaidi, a sophomore studying architectural engineering, found a quiet study space on the second floor. The second floor has more than 99 computer workstations and study spots.

On the second floor of Historic Farrell Library, a new reading room with lots of natural light includes study space and will house the current periodicals collection. At the opposite end of the space is the new home for the Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies. The Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room will open soon on the first floor of Historic Farrell Library. The room will include study space and house the juvenile literature and curriculum materials collections.

A picture of the second floor reading room.
A view from the future home of the Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies looks into the second floor reading room.

On the third floor, visitors and students can marvel at the beautiful, restored Great Room or Harry Potter Room. A meditation space and Wudu wash station are available to all patrons. Additional study spaces on the third floor allow for a quieter atmosphere than the floors below.

A picture of freshmen Julia Smith, open option, and Lauren Dornbush, food science, studying together in the Great Room.
Freshmen Julia Smith, open option, and Lauren Dornbush, food science, studied together in the Great Room. Julia said she saw the original Great Room when she was little but that it’s very special seeing it as a K-Stater.
A picture of junior Josh Jones studying in the Great Room.
Junior Josh Jones, organizational management, enjoys the peacefulness of the newly renovated Great Room.

Libraries staff and Belfor crews have been busy processing, organizing and returning books to the shelves. So far, over 25,000 boxes have been returned to Hale Library for reshelving. Stacks A through C are filled in addition to most of stack D. The music and art collection has also been reshelved on the third floor.

A picture of the filled shelves on the third floor.
The music and art collections have been reshelved on the third floor of Hale Library. Currently, most items from the main collection with call number ranges A to PN 684 and the music and art collections have been reshelved.

The fourth floor, as the quiet floor, provides study space for those who prefer a quiet space to concentrate on their work. More collaboration rooms, computers, printers and scanners are available in the newly opened spaces as well as four additional family and gender-neutral restrooms.

A picture of student Max Nease studying near a window on the fourth floor.
Max Nease, a freshman in mechanical engineering, said that he loves seeing the books in the library and getting to explore to find the perfect study spot. Looks like he found a good one!

We can’t wait to see the building fill up more as more folks come to visit the new building and explore what Hale Library has to offer them. In the coming weeks, we hope to share more photos of the spaces being used, as well as updates on spaces like the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.

The only question left to ask is, when are you going to come check out Hale Library?

Building update: A race to the finish line

Posted on by Darchelle Martin

While Hale Library was originally scheduled to open all floors on Jan. 25, we needed just a little more time to finalize construction. The first floor is currently open, and we plan to open the remaining floors Feb. 8.

However, the building is very close to being ready. We were even able to provide our staff and Friends of the K-State Libraries Board of Directors with a sneak peek of the spaces.

In addition to final construction activities, workers have been busy unpacking and setting up new furniture throughout the building. Due to some delays in furniture arrivals and the need to space out furniture for social distancing, much of the furniture is not in its permanent location.

Tables and chairs sit in Hale Library's Great Room
The Great Room is ready for visitors once again! New tables and chairs are in place after the fire destroyed the previous furniture. We have also added lots of electrical outlets, a major issue for students in the past.
A few tables and chairs sit in an empty reading room.
Due to delays on some of the new furniture and the COVID-19 pandemic, furniture has been spaced out throughout the library. Here, some of the new Great Room furniture temporarily sits in the new Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room on the first floor.
Large tables sit next to empty bookshelves
A few pieces of furniture from before the fire were able to be salvaged and cleaned. These large tables were a favorite of students looking to spread out their papers, textbooks and laptop while they studied. They are now located on the fourth floor.
Computer stations are set up in Hale Library
More computer stations have been set up on third and fourth floors. This set of computer desks on fourth floor gets a lot of great natural light.

In addition to furniture set up, we continue to make progress reshelving our collections. Much of the music and art collection are now back on bookshelves in Hale Library. When Hale Library opens on Feb. 8 any materials that are shelved can be checked out. The reshelving process will continue throughout the semester.

An employee stands on a kickstand to read the call numbers on book spines.
Debbie Wasinger, accounting specialist, reads the call numbers on the books to confirm that they are in the correct order. We call this shelf reading. The collection is shelf read at our staging facility before being returned to Hale, and is then shelf read again at Hale Library to make sure users will be able to find what they need.

We were excited to offer our current and former staff members a tour of the spaces before we open to the public. Many of our current and former employees had never seen the new spaces. Several tours were offered over a two day period so small groups could properly social distance.

A group of people in hardhats walk through the Great Room.
A tour group led by Associate Dean Mike Haddock toured the completely restored Great Room.
Four people in hardhats stand outside the Great Room.
Here, another group stops at the Great Room entrance in the expanded foyer. One of the two graduate student study rooms can be seen in the background behind the glass walls.
A staff member stand in front of an office cubicle.
Tara Marintzer, senior graphic designer, stands in front of her future desk. Several staff members were excited to get a first look at their new office spaces.
Several people stand at one end of the Great Room.
In addition to staff, some of the Friends of the Libraries Board of Directors also got a sneak peek of the new spaces. They were particularly excited to see the Great Room.
Several people stand in a room with tables stacked to the side.
The Friends Board also got a look at The Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room, which was made possible by donations to the Friends. The large instruction room will provide a space for librarians to teach research skills to K-State students.

We are excited for others to soon explore all that Hale Library has to offer. As many tour attendees told us, the pictures are great, but they don’t do it justice. You have to see it for yourself.

Building update: Books and study nooks

Posted on by Cailin Riley

It’s 2021, the spring semester is close at hand, and we’re prepping Hale Library for a scheduled opening on Jan. 25!

Books related to the topic of music arrived in boxes to the third floor, and staff have started moving them to the shelves. Also on the third floor, map cases and furniture for computers and study seating have been installed. The bright and sunny study nooks on the third floor will be a lot like the study nooks on the south side of the second floor.

A picture of the third floor shelving being filled with books.
More books have arrived in the library. Staff have started shelving books on the topic of music; we can’t wait to see these shelves fill up!
A picture of the study spaces on the third floor near the windows.
The third floor has more study areas for students and patrons to use. The third and fourth floors are designed to be quieter study areas with the fourth floor officially designated for quiet study only.

Another exciting development is that the area around the Academic Learning Center, above the event gallery, has had glass walls installed. Glass gallery walls were also installed for the graduate study rooms down below on the third floor.

A picture of the event gallery ceiling on the fourth floor.
Along with the installation of glass surrounding the Academic Learning Center area, clerestory lights have been placed near the ceiling to brighten the space.
Glass storefronts have been added to the graduate study rooms on the third floor.
Glass storefronts have been added to the graduate study rooms on the third floor surrounding the event gallery space. In the window’s reflection, you can see the historic wooden doorway to the Great Room.

We’re also thrilled to see more shelving pop up around the building! For example, the second floor of Historic Farrell Library now has shelves installed for our current periodical collection. The fifth floor mobile shelving has also been completed. We even added some extra shelving to stack G for more books!

A picture of shelving for current periodicals on the second floor of Historic Farrell Library.
Shelving for current periodicals has been installed in the second floor of Historic Farrell Library. Low shelving lets more natural light into the space, which we are loving!
A picture of compact mobile shelving on the fifth floor.
On the fifth floor, compact mobile shelving has been installed for Special Collections materials.

The Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab is coming along, with the installation of new whiteboards and equipment checkout storage. Crew members have also started installing the glass storefront at the second floor entrance. Because of the amount of high tech equipment for the Innovation Lab, the Libraries plan to open the space in phases, with completion expected in fall 2021. This will ensure that we have the latest and greatest technology when students and faculty are hopefully able to gather more easily.

A glass storefront has been installed at the second floor entrance of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.
A glass storefront has been installed at the second floor entrance of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.

It’s been a long time coming but we are very close to welcoming the community back to Hale Library. We are looking forward to seeing visitors, both those familiar with the earlier iteration of the building and those who are taking their first steps into the library, explore the new spaces and take advantage of what the library and our amazing staff have to offer.

Building update: Furniture is here!

Posted on by Cailin Riley

We didn’t know it was possible to be this excited about new furniture, but here we are!

Last week, about 700 pieces of furniture were delivered to the second floor of Hale Library. From there, the furniture was sorted and dispersed throughout the library to their respective locations. Now, crew members have started unpacking and setting up the new pieces, which include tables, chairs, office desks and other workspace furniture. More furniture will be arriving over the next several weeks.

A picture of furniture, including desks, set up in offices on the third floor.
Some offices in Hale Library, including these offices on the third floor, have already been outfitted with new desks and shelving. Now all that’s missing is our fantastic staff!
A picture of workstations being installed on the fifth floor.
Workstations on the fifth floor are in the process of being installed. We can’t wait to see lots of friendly faces in this space in the future.
A picture of delivered furniture boxes laid out on the second floor.
Pieces of office furniture are placed on the second floor before being distributed throughout the building.

Another exciting development last week was the carpeting of the second floor of Historic Farrell Library. The main area will house current print journals and study space for students.

A picture of filled Stack C and empty Stack D.
Library staff are still working on filling the stacks with books, but things are moving quickly! We are thrilled to see our collection back in the building.

The Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies will be located on the other side of the beautiful wood and glass wall at the east end of the room. The Center’s mission is to provide a space for students, faculty, staff and the community to explore human diversity, the changing landscape of American demographics and the impact of globalization.

A picture of the carpeted second floor of Historic Farrell Library.
This beautiful, newly carpeted space on the second floor of Historic Farrell Library will provide lots of natural light, a top request from students for renovated study spaces.
A picture of the carpeted second floor of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.
A sneak peek of the second floor of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab shows that carpet has been added. To the left, you can see one of the original 1927 doorways to Historic Farrell Library.
A picture of crew member Bryan Hauck works on refinishing one of the original 1927 doors for Historic Farrell Library.
Crew member Bryan Hauck works on refinishing one of the original 1927 doors for Historic Farrell Library. We appreciate the crew’s efforts in restoring these special, historic elements of the building.

As we get ready to say goodbye to 2020, we are filled with excitement and anticipation for what 2021 will bring for Hale Library. By the start of spring semester most of Hale Library will be accessible to patrons and visitors. Other spaces, including the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab, will still be undergoing work due to the volume of technology and equipment.

Thank you for joining us this far on Hale Library’s journey and all of us at K-State Libraries wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!

Building update: Prepping for furniture to arrive

Posted on by Cailin Riley

We’re less than a week shy of Winter Break, which means that soon, Hale Library will be closing to work on renovations in time for the start of the spring semester. At that point, the five floors of the library will open to the public and K-State community. The Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab will open later in spring.

As you can imagine, getting closer to completing most of the renovations means that the bulk of construction is finished and final touches, including shelving, lighting and furniture installation are currently in progress.

One exciting development is that the Great Room has been completely carpeted, as well as most of the fifth floor! The Academic Learning Center space on the fourth floor also has been carpeted.

A picture of the Great Room, fully carpeted.
A view from the fourth floor balcony reveals the nearly completed Great Room.
Another picture of the Great Room, this time showing the completed bookshelves.
The Great Room has been fully carpeted. To the left, you can see the restored murals and bookshelves.
A picture of crew members carpeting the fifth floor.
Last month, crew members spent time carpeting the fifth floor in preparation for furniture installation.
Crew members working on installing cubicles on the fifth floor.
Crew members are now installing employee workstations on the fifth floor.

New furniture, including workstations, has started arriving to the library; more new furniture for the upper floors is expected to arrive soon.

A picture of the new kitchenette installed on the fourth, in the ALC area.
The Academic Learning Center on the fourth floor has been carpeted and includes a new kitchenette area. In the background, you can see the “We Are the Dream” mural, which now has lighting installed above it.

Shelving installation on the third and fourth floors is nearly complete and crew members are also setting up shelving in the special collections space on the fifth floor.

On the south side of the fourth floor, more shelving has been installed.
On the south side of the fourth floor, more shelving has been installed. Crew members have nearly completed shelving on the third and fourth floors of the library.
The east end of the third floor includes shelving for multimedia materials.
The east end of the third floor includes shelving for multimedia materials.
A picture of the first floor entrance to the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.
The temporary walls to the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab on the first and second floors have been removed, so now we can see the entrance to the space! The first phase of the Innovation Lab is expected to open later in the spring semester.

We are enthusiastically awaiting the delivery and installation of the rest of the new furniture and hope to share pictures in our next blog post.

We also want to wish good luck to students, faculty and the K-State community during this finals week. You’re nearly there and a well-deserved break lies on the other side!

Building update: We’re almost there!

Posted on by Cailin Riley

We’re nearing the end of November, which means that we are only about two months away from completing the renovation of Hale Library!

All floors of the library will open on January 25, 2021. As we get closer to that exciting date, construction continues and many spaces within the building are nearing completion or having final touches added. Stacks A through C have been completely filled with books and staff are now working on filling Stack D.

On the fifth floor, carpeting is being added to the administrative suites and the Special Collections reading room. We are especially thrilled to see the finished construction of the reading room desk, where visitors will check in with staff to use special collections’ materials. Crew members also have delivered wood lockers that can hold patrons’ personal items while they research.

A picture of a crew member installing baseboard in the Special Collections reading room.
Crew members are installing baseboard and the wooden lockers in the Special Collections reading room.
A picture of the desk in the Special Collections reading room.
While the counter space is newly constructed, the darker-colored wooden desk to the right is the original Special Collections reading room desk. The newly constructed Kenneth S. Davis Seminar Room is located on the other side of the windows. 

On the third floor, lockers have been installed in the graduate student study rooms and progress has been made on the event and gallery space outside the Great Room. Nearly all the new shelving on the upper floors has been installed as well.

A picture of new light fixtures and Masonite covering the terrazzo floor in the event gallery.
New lighting has been installed in the event and gallery space on the third floor before entering the Great Room. The terrazzo floor is currently covered with a protective layer of masonite. 
A picture of shelving being installed on the fourth floor.
Last week, crew members were working on installing shelving on the fourth floor. Shelving installation on both the third and fourth floors is nearly complete.

Further plaster repair is in the works on the first and second floors of the Historic Farrell Library. At the east end of the second floor, workers recently finished staining the original woodwork and doors.

Crew members work to repair plaster on the first floor of Historic Farrell Library.
Crew members work to repair plaster on the first floor of Historic Farrell Library. This space will be the Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room. It will house the juvenile literature and curriculum materials collection in addition to study space.
A picture of stained woodwork and doors at the east end of the second floor in Historic Farrell Library.
The stained woodwork and doors at the east end of the second floor in Historic Farrell Library will provide a beautiful entrance to the Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies. 
A picture of the completed Great Room murals.
The restoration of the Great Room murals is complete and crew members are clearing construction materials from the room in preparation for carpet installation.

The first floor of Hale Library will be open during dead week and finals week. After that, the library will close as construction wraps up. We will then begin the tedious and exciting task of installing the furniture and technology for the third through fifth floors and the three floors of Historic Farrell Library. We expect everything to be ready the first day of spring semester classes, except for the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab, which will require a bit more time to get all the technology ready. The first phase of the Innovation Lab is scheduled to open in March 2021.

We wish everyone a safe fall break and Thanksgiving. We at the Libraries are forever grateful for all those who have made the renovation and restoration of Hale Library a possibility.

The “We Are the Dream” mural is back in Hale Library!

Posted on by Cailin Riley

A very important part of Hale Library’s history and story is back in the building.

The “We Are the Dream” mural is an important record of the struggle of K-State’s underrepresented students to be seen and heard.

“We Are the Dream,” which was sponsored by the Black Student Union, Movimiento Estudiantil de Chicanos de Aztlan (MEChA, a Hispanic student group), and the Native American Indian Student Body, was dedicated on October 24, 1980, making this year its 40th anniversary. At that time, the fourth floor space was home to the Minority Resource and Research Center.

 

A picture of Harold Carter painting a section of the "We Are the Dream" mural.
Harold Carter helped paint the “We are the Dream” mural. He was a senior in landscape architecture when the mural was dedicated in October of 1980.
A picture of the mural space back in the 1980's.
Here is the mural in the 1980’s in the Minority Resource and Research Center. The Center has since changed locations in Hale Library and is now named the Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies. The mural remains in its original location which now house the Academic Learning Center, a study and tutoring space for student athletes.  

The fire started on the roof almost directly above the mural. Subsequently, the mural suffered from significant water damage and soiling—it even had mold trapped behind it. The paint created a barrier that inhibited the moisture from escaping, and so to allow the wall to dry out, art conservators had to remove the mural from the wall for cleaning.

For more pictures and information on the mural handling directly after the fire, check out our previous post on the mural.

An up-close shot of a section of the mural with student signatures.
The mural was conceptualized and created by several students—their signatures are painted on the lower edges of the canvas.
A picture of Rachel Gilberti looking over paperwork.
Rachel Gilberti, chief conservator at John Canning Company, looks over her paperwork after the first pieces of the mural are tacked into place behind her.

Rachel Gilberti, the chief conservator at John Canning Company, has been working with the damaged mural since June 2018. Initially after it was removed, the mural was taken to the third floor for some emergency cleaning and drying. After that, it was taken back to the company’s studio for another month of further work.

Rachel and her team came back to Hale Library this fall to begin final restoration work on the Great Room murals. Within the last few weeks, they also had the opportunity to put the We Are the Dream mural back in its original home and give the canvas a few final touches.

A picture of Dean Lori Goetsch looking at the mural.
Dean of Libraries, Lori Goetsch, visited the mural to see the progress of the mural as it was returned to its original location.

Dean of Libraries, Lori Goetsch, said that saving the mural was an important goal of the Hale Library renovation and restoration project.

“The “We Are the Dream” mural has survived 40 years and represents an important moment in time at K-State and in our nation,” said Dean Goetsch. “It was essential to do the post-fire restoration, because many organizations and individuals on campus look to it as a significant symbol of diversity on campus.”

Part of the challenge of putting the mural back up on the wall was touching up the edges and making sure that the seams of the mural sections align. The mural was painted on burlap panels that were attached to wood backing that was in turn attached to the stone wall behind.

A picture of art conservators using a ladder to place the mural on the wall.
Part of the challenge of putting the mural back on the wall was lining up the seams correctly. Over time, the mural sections have shifted a bit so that some lean a certain way. As such, lining them up takes a bit of adjustment.
A pair of art conservators looking at the first section of the mural placed on the wall.
Gilberti and David Gough, project manager, survey the first piece of the mural to be placed on the wall, the painting of Martin Luther King Jr., who visited K-State in 1968 for his speech, “The Future of Integration.”

“Over time, the original adhesive they used on the burlap started failing and so when we got here, you could see areas where the seams had started coming apart,” Gilberti said.

Fine arts conservator Dona Yu works on touching up the paint on the mural.
Fine arts conservator Dona Yu works on touching up the paint on the mural, giving an extra bit of life and color to the 40-year-old work of art.

One of the most obvious differences in the mural to those who had seen it before the fire was how absolutely vivid the colors are. The rich color and mixed artistic styles draws the eye and gives the mostly neutral 4th floor space a burst of personality and purpose.

“There is so much symbolism that is representative of a diverse student body here,” Gilberti said. “This is a great time in history to put this mural back on the wall. I think students will really appreciate having something that stands for unity, peace and diversity.”

A picture of the full mural tacked to the wall.
With the entire mural now adhered to the wall, the conservators are working on final touches to the seams and edges.

We are excited to have the mural back safe and sound in the building, as part of our ongoing efforts to restore the library and the important artwork and architecture within. These efforts ensure that future generations of K-Staters can appreciate the history and stories of those who came before.

Building update: Looking spiffy

Posted on by Cailin Riley

We’re more than halfway through the semester, and the progress in Hale Library is astonishing to see. Currently, two of the four Great Room murals have been completely restored, and the upper floors of the library are looking put together. The excitement among staff and students is growing more and more as we get closer to January and the opening of the remaining floors.

A picture of various shelving on the third floor.
Shelving has been installed on the third floor for various types of items including books and other media.
A picture of multimedia shelving on the third floor.
These cabinets on the third floor will store CDs and DVDs.

Crew members have been hard at work on the third floor installing various types of shelving. While the bulk of the shelving on the third floor will be for books, the space will also include shelving for audiovisual materials such as CDs, DVDs and LPs. There will also be storage spaces for music scores, art and other large items. It is so exciting to see nice, new shelves back in the main library spaces. In addition, Stack C is a little over halfway filled with books now.

A picture of Stack C, completely filled with books.
Earlier this month, Stack C was being filled with books.

Throughout the office spaces and open areas on the fourth floor, crew members have been working on applying carpet glue and the carpeting itself. In addition, study alcoves have been built along two corridors on the fourth floor.

A picture of the carpeted fourth floor.
Crew members are working on carpeting the fourth floor main areas and offices.
A picture of wooden study alcoves on the fourth floor.
The study alcoves on the fourth floor will give students a quiet space to work.

In the events gallery on the third floor, the large space in between the graduate study rooms, the original 1927 terrazzo floor has been restored, cleaned and polished. Before the fire, the floor was covered with carpet so we’re excited to see it revealed.

A picture of the polished terrazzo floor in the event gallery space.
Terrazzo is a bright-colored material which is used for floor and wall treatments. It often consists of chips of marble, quartz, granite or glass. Our terrazzo is looking beautiful!

In the Great Room, work on the murals has continued at a very fast pace! As of right now, the Industry and Agriculture murals have been completely finished. The art conservationists are focusing their work now on the remaining two murals—the Arts and the Home.

A picture of the Industry and Agriculture Great Room murals.
Earlier this month, art conservators Tim Phebus and Rachel Gilberti worked quite a bit on the Agriculture mural, which is now completed.
An up-close shot of the Agriculture mural.
This photo shows the Agriculture mural completely restored. We think it looks amazing!

We want to say thank you to the crew members and art conservators who are working very hard as we near the end of Hale Library’s renovation timeline. As the “heart of campus,” the library means a lot to the K-State community and we are so appreciative of the people who have taken a special interest in this project and come to love the building as much as we do.

An interview with the Great Room murals’ lead conservator, Rachel Gilberti

Posted on by Cailin Riley

Over the last few weeks, art conservators from John Canning & Co., an historical decoration and restoration company, have been busy at work in the Great Room. Their goal is to fully restore the four Great Room murals to pristine condition—not an easy task after what the art has been through.

A picture of crew members in the Great Room.
Art conservators from John Canning & Co. have been busy for the last few weeks in efforts to fully restore the Great Room murals.

Rachel Gilberti, fine arts conservator and lead on the project, said her team has recently been working on removing an older layer of varnish from the murals before they will add a new one. Back in 2018, Gilberti’s team came in to perform emergency work on the murals to save them from further damage, due to the water that was used to extinguish the building fire. They were able to do so, but further restoration could not be done until the thick wall the murals are on had completely dried. Two years later, the wall is dry enough for full restoration efforts to take place!

Fine arts conservator Rachel Gilberti surveys the Agriculture mural
Fine arts conservator Rachel Gilberti surveys the Agriculture mural, one of the more damaged murals.

Last week, we pulled Rachel away from removing varnish long enough to chat about the progress her team is making on the murals. She had some amazing insight for us, along with some interesting details about the murals that most people do not know.

Below, you can watch a short video segment of our interview with Rachel.

The art conservators use scissor lifts to reach all sections of the murals.
The art conservators use scissor lifts to reach all sections of the murals.

Note: Interview responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

What was it like, seeing the murals right after the fire, to now, two years later?

Rachel Gilberti: I’m really happy with how they turned out, especially because of the things the murals went through beforehand. The fire itself didn’t cause much harm, but the water from the sprinkler system did. They were exposed to a lot of water damage. And the wall that the murals are on, believe it or not, is 14 inches wide so it soaked up quite a bit of water. And the type of stone that you have here in Kansas absorbs a lot of water naturally, so it took a long time for the walls to completely dry up. The paint layer actually separated itself from the plaster, and so we had to go through every crack we could visibly see on the wall and inject adhesive so that it stayed where it is supposed to stay.

The murals that were most affected, the agriculture and arts murals, those were consolidated several times, which is an unusual situation because normally we would start a project after the damage has been done, not while the damage is still occurring. I had no idea what the result was going to be at the end. But we’re back after two years and the murals are on the wall, they stayed safe, there is minimal blooming from the varnish we applied. So now we’re taking off that old varnish and will put on a new layer now that the wall is dry so that the murals won’t have a milky quality to them. I’m happy with them—they should come out really nice at the end.

Art conservator Tim Phebus works on removing an old layer of varnish from the Arts mural.
Art conservator Tim Phebus works on removing an old layer of varnish from the Arts mural.

What is the biggest challenge with restoring the murals?

RG: Number one, we didn’t know how long it would take for the wall to dry. We also didn’t know how much damage the water would actually inflict on the murals. But we’re happy that it turned out alright in the end.

Rachel Gilberti works on applying varnish to the Agriculture mural.
The white circles on the murals flag areas where the plaster has separated from the wall. These spaces will be filled with a special adhesive.

How long will restoring the murals take?

RG: We’re here for another month to work on these, and then we’ll start work on the “We Are the Dream” mural which might take another few weeks to a month. Once you get to this stage, things move along pretty fast. It’s the preemptive work beforehand that takes longer, the consolidation work.

What is your favorite part about working with historical buildings?

RG: I like to see the transformation because it’s like bringing the building back to its original, artistic conception. The artist for the murals considered colors and the scheme of the building itself when creating the art. If you look at the Home mural, [David] Overmyer actually reflects the Great Room windows onto the mural—you can see the diamond pattern of the windows on the mural. That’s a level of detail that most people wouldn’t notice from the floor.

An art conservator works on the Agriculture mural.
Of the four murals, the Arts mural received the most water damage. However, Gilberti is confident that it will be back in pristine condition soon!

That’s really neat. Lastly, do you have a mural that is your favorite to work on?

RG: I like the Arts, but maybe I just sway that way because art is my thing. The instrument there and the color palette. I also like that Overmyer stylized his figures in 20’s style clothing and even their hairstyles. I find that interesting because not many artists focused on that time period. But I’ve been hearing that a lot of people like Agriculture too, everybody likes the moon!

We want to say a big thank you to Rachel and her team for graciously allowing us to disrupt their important work so we could chat with them and gather photo and video of the murals under restoration. We know how much it means to the K-State community to see these beautiful works of art again, and we along with you, simply cannot wait to see the final product!

Building update: Work on the murals begins!

Posted on by Cailin Riley

This week, we’re celebrating the start of restoration work on the murals! Over the next few weeks, Rachel Gilberti and her art restoration team from the John Canning Company will review the murals and work to bring them back to their original glory.

The murals in the Great Room have been uncovered.
The murals have been uncovered for the first time in nearly two years and restoration work has begun.

Back in 2018, soon after the fire, Gilberti and a team came in to assess the damage and do as much immediate repairs to the murals as they could. Afterward, they were covered while the rest of the Great Room underwent its huge reconstruction and restoration process. Last week, the covers were taken off the murals for the first time in two years!

A picture of Rachel Gilberti in front of the murals.
Rachel Gilberti, fine arts conservator with the John Canning Company, holds acetate transparencies of the murals from two years and today. The transparencies show the difference in damage to the murals from right after the fire to how they look today.

The fourth floor has seen some significant progress lately, as crew members work on installing ceiling tile and mobile bookshelves. Further work has also been done on the graduate study rooms on the third floor, along with the staircase within the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.

The stairs between the first and second floors of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab are covered with wood temporarily.
The stairs connecting the first and second floors of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab are currently covered with wood. After completion, the wood coverings will be removed to reveal stone steps.
The graduate study rooms on the third floor are under construction.
Graduate study rooms on the third floor will provide dedicated space for graduate students to use. 

On the first floor, students, staff and faculty have been able to visit and purchase items from the newly opened Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café. Right now, visitors can purchase grab and go options and consume them in the café area.

Inside Joyce and Joe's Cornerstone Cafe, grab and go food and drink options are laid out for visitors.
The grab and go section of Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café provides easy snacks and drinks for those who need a little extra energy while studying! The café will offer an expanded menu of made to order items later this semester.
A picture of crew members working on installing the rails for the mobile bookshelves on the fourth floor.
Crew members on the fourth floor have been installing the rails for the mobile bookshelves.
A picture of the southwest stairwell leading to the fourth floor, with a stained glass window.
In the southwest stairwell leading to the fourth floor is a stained glass window, undamaged by the 2018 fire. The circular sunflower window was made by Bill Hemminger in memory of Elmer Tomasch, an art professor at K-State during the seventies. Tomasch made the statue of Johnny Kaw in City Park.
Crew members work on repairing and painting the ceiling in the fourth floor corridor.
Crew members work on repairing and painting the ceiling in the fourth floor corridor. We’re super impressed with their ability to balance on the stilts they use to reach high spaces!

Next week on the blog, we’ll be sharing more details and pictures of the murals’ restoration. We’re excited to follow their progress!

 

 

Building update: Adding dimension and color

Posted on by Cailin Riley

While students, staff and faculty have been adjusting to a new normal at K-State and within the community, work on Hale Library has continued at a rapid pace.

Libraries staff are ecstatic to see books back in the library. Stack A is now completely filled with books that have been cleaned, sorted and re-shelved. While the books will not be available to patrons immediately due to ongoing construction, it is still exciting to have books back in the library.

A picture of stack A completely filled with books.
Stack A is filled with books, thanks to the efforts of the Belfor team and Libraries staff!

With the third floor completely carpeted, crew members have started constructing furniture, such as study nooks behind the Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room.

The inside of the Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room, filled with carpet.
A glimpse inside the Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room. While the room appears to be shaped like an ellipse on the outside, the inside is actually rectangular.
Study nooks have been constructed just out side of the Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room.
Just outside the Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room, study spaces have been installed for students to use. Libraries staff conducted assessment on the use of the first floor furniture and spaces and found that this design was popular with students. The assessment results were taken into account when deciding on furniture for the upper floors.

In the Great Room, the crew is working on painting decorative moldings and staining the bookshelves lining the room. The added color in the historic space is exciting to see. Art restoration specialists will officially start work on restoring the murals this week. We can’t wait to share pictures with you throughout the process!

The bookshelves that line the Great Room walls have been repaired and stained.
The bookshelves that line the Great Room walls have been repaired and stained. We love the beautiful finish!
A crew member works on painting the cornices in the Great Room.
A crew member works on painting the cornices in the Great Room.
A picture of the Great Room murals and bookshelves.
The John Canning company is scheduled to arrive with their equipment this week to begin the six week process of restoring the Great Room murals.
A picture of a corridor on the fourth floor of the building.
Looking toward the west end of the building, this is what a corridor on the fourth floor currently looks like.

Lastly, we wanted to share the exciting news that Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Cafe is officially open! The cafe, located on the first floor of Hale Library, is now offering grab n’ go options for patrons who want a snack while visiting the building. There are plans to expand to made-to-order options later in the semester.

We hope you’ll stop by for a visit and a bite to eat!

Building Update: A “Back to School” like never before

Posted on by Cailin Riley

The fall semester has officially begun, and here at the Libraries we are especially excited to have students back in the building.

It has been both an exhilarating and challenging experience welcoming students and patrons back to the Libraries after the summer break. As our staff work hard to help patrons and students while prioritizing safety, we want to say thank you to library visitors who are following guidelines and doing their best to keep their fellow Wildcats safe. We are all learning together through these unprecedented times, and we appreciate visitors’ patience and positive attitudes regarding COVID-19 guidelines.

K-State students study on the first floor while wearing masks.
K-State students practice social distancing while studying in a nook on the first floor.
On the second floor, masked students study near the east end windows
On the second floor, masked students study near the east end windows.

We also are thrilled about the progress with the upper floors. While work on the fifth floor has mostly paused for the moment, the third and fourth floors have undergone a rather dramatic transformation in just the last few weeks alone. The third floor, in particular, looks very polished with brand new carpeting, ceiling tile and lighting. The fourth floor has received further plaster and ceiling work as well.

The third floor is now carpeted, with board walkways for crew members.
The main area of the third floor is now completely carpeted. The tan-colored walkways are boards that crew members use to get around the space to avoid walking on the carpet.
The area outside of the Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room is carpeted as well.
The area outside of the Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room is carpeted as well. In the future, this area will have more soft seating.
This is a recent picture of the second floor of the Innovation Lab, looking toward the Historic Farrell entrance.
This is a recent picture of the second floor of the Innovation Lab, looking toward the Historic Farrell entrance. As you can see, the space is really starting to take shape.
A picture of the fourth floor, still under heavy construction with dim lighting.
The fourth floor of the library is still under heavy construction, with crew members focusing on the replacement of pipes and 

ceilings.

Crew members work on repairing plaster in the fourth floor Academic Learning Center.
Crew members work on repairing plaster in the fourth floor Academic Learning Center. This area overlooks the event gallery space on the third floor.
A picture of the walls surrounding the Great Room murals, painted purple, cream and green.
The areas surrounding the Great Room murals have been painted with purple, cream and sage green. It is so exciting to see some fresh color come into the space!
A picture of a Great Room mural, with white cornices, or decorative moldings on either side.
There are three new cornices, or decorative moldings in the Great Room – one each at the east and west ends of the south wall, and one on the north wall. The other original cornices were cleaned and painted white. The plaster repair company took molds from the original cornices to create the three new ones.

It is heartening to see that despite the challenges the Libraries and K-State are facing this semester as a whole, people are still working together to create something beautiful and meaningful. We love seeing students explore the new spaces and hear their remarks on what they think of the renovation. Most of all, we relish the chance to remind them that while Hale Library might look pretty different, it is still a safe space for them to learn, and our staff’s mission to be of service has not changed.

Building update: Familiar spaces, new additions

Posted on by Cailin Riley

We can’t believe that the start of fall semester is next week! Though we’ve encountered many challenges both on campus and throughout the community, the Libraries have forged ahead to ready the building for students as they return to campus and start classes.

Belfor team members stack boxes of books onto carts.
A very exciting piece of news is that the first load of books within the general collection has been moved back into the library! The sorted books were removed from boxes and put on the shelves within the stacks.
A picture of Kay Rieder and the Belfor team in front of shelves of books.
Kay Rieder, a Belfor team leader, poses with several team members in front of the first filled book shelf in Hale Library. Kay and her team have been extremely important to our success with the library materials since the fire two years ago.

Recently, the first floor of Hale Library reopened for the semester, along with the Math/Physics Library. This means that when students return to campus, they will have access to both floors of Hale Library and multiple resources to start classes strong. These resources include access to the IT and Library help desks, computer work stations, printers, study rooms and more.

The first floor of Hale Library looks even better now than it did when it first opened last fall. Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café is nearly finished and has been filled with furniture. The new color-changing fireplace has been cause for much excitement. But don’t worry about the fire itself—it’s fake!

A picture of the cafe, filled with tables and soft seating.
The cafe furniture includes individual tables, a large high-top table and several soft seating areas near the fireplace.
Crew members work on welding the stairs within the Innovation Lab.
Workers are welding the staircase that connects the first and second floors of the future Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab.
A picture of construction equipment and materials within the digital media lab.
The interior rooms and work spaces within the Innovation Lab are being outfitted with new ceiling tile.

Much of the work on floors 1 through 3 the past week or so has revolved around installing carpeting and grinding metal stair pieces for staircases that are currently closed to the public. The third floor, in particular, has made significant progress.

The third floor, fleshed out with ceiling tiles.
The main area of the third floor is looking great and will be ready for carpet soon. This area will be filled with collections and study areas.
The west end of the third floor, with carpeting.
The west end of the third floor is now carpeted. We love how the third floor hallway has a modern look but still includes exposed limestone from the 1955 stacks addition!

It’s been an unusual summer here at the Libraries and K-State for certain, but we are excited to have students back in Hale Library and hope they fall in love with the new spaces as much as we have.

A worker on a lift paints the wall surrounding a Great Room mural.
A worker on a lift works begins to paint the wall surrounding one of the murals in the Great Room. The murals will be fully restored, with work starting this upcoming semester.

Building update: Sorting the collection and prepping the upper floors

Posted on by Cailin Riley

As we inch closer and closer to the start of the fall semester, we wanted to share an update not just on the progress within Hale Library, but on the books that have been undergoing a rigorous cleaning and sorting process.

Our library materials have gone through quite the journey over the past two years. All materials had to be removed from the library, and each item had to go through a cleaning process. They were stored at various facilities including a restoration facility in Texas and several caves in Kansas City.

But now, the cleaned items are arriving back in Manhattan to be sorted. It’s quite a task…more than 147,000 boxes of books need to be reviewed for damage, sorted, and placed in call number order!

Boxes of books on wooden slats sit in one end of a big room.
The Libraries are using Executive Court as a sorting and staging area. We are grateful for the space to conduct this work!

For the past few weeks, Libraries staff, along with employees of Belfor, a disaster recovery and restoration company, have been unpacking and sorting books on temporary shelves set up at Executive Court. The books on the shelves need to be checked by staff to make sure they are in the correct order. We like to call this shelf reading! While time intensive, this is an important step to make sure that people can find the items they are looking for.

Dean Lori Goetch and other volunteers practice shelf reading.
Temporary shelves have been set up so that staff, including our very own Dean Lori Goetsch, can make sure the books are in the correct order.
A picture of Raymond Deiser working on the computer.
Raymond Deiser, library specialist, works on the computer to identify books that need extra help in getting to the right place on the shelves.

Thanks to dedicated staff, the book sorting is going well! We hope to begin reshelving books in Hale Library in August, though items won’t be immediately available for use in part due to ongoing construction.

Construction in the library is also going at a good clip, and the upper floors are starting to come together.

A construction worker is seen on the other side of an arched doorway.
Work continues on the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab. Here a construction worker can be seen through one of the historical arched doorways on the first floor.
A man walks through a doorway. To the right is a wall of limestone.
Historical details are highlighted through the building. Exposed limestone walls can be seen in several locations including outside the east entrance to the Great Room.
Several arched windows and concrete floors in Hale Library.
The third floor is looking more prepped and ready everyday. The east end of the third floor will include several study tables with lots of natural light from the arched windows.
The Dean of the Libraries looks over a railing in Hale Library.
Up on the fourth floor, the ceiling overlooking the new third floor exhibit space is ready for drywall. Dean Lori Goetsch looks down to the new exhibit space. The “We Are the Dream Mural” will go back on the wall directly in front of Dean Goetsch in the Academic Learning Center.
A picture of a classroom on the fifth floor under construction.
The Kenneth S. Davis Seminar Room in the Morse Department of Special Collections is taking shape. This new addition will allow our Special Collections staff to provide instruction with their materials in a separate space from their reading room, which is often occupied by researchers. 

Right now, we anticipate that floors three through five, as well as the Historical Farrell Library portions, will be opened to the public early next spring semester. It’s been very exciting to see the upper floors progress, and we can’t wait until we can share them with the community.

Building update: A new normal

Posted on by Cailin Riley

It’s exciting to have people back in Hale Library! With the opening of the second floor, we are working to adjust to a new sort of normal on campus and at the Libraries, while keeping visitors safe.

A picture of the loggia entrance of Hale Library, with COVID-19 related signs.
Visitors to the second floor of Hale Library enter through the loggia entrance, where there are signs to help inform them about safety guidelines.

Our staff have many safety features in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including required use of masks, extra cleaning supplies available to patrons and limited seating areas and computer stations. It has been very exciting to see people come into the space to walk around and explore the new floor.

A picture of the help desks in the center of the second floor of the library.
The IT and Library Help Desks on the second floor have floor signs to help encourage social distancing.
Two students are pictured sitting and studying in the library.
On July 1, students came by the library to check out the new space and take some time to study. It’s great to see students back in Hale Library!
A picture of Kim Bugbee with her mask on, sitting in the loggia entrance.
Kim Bugbee, user services specialist, helped greet visitors to the library in the loggia entrance. The entire library user services team helped make sure that visitors knew where to go and how to follow safety precautions.
A picture of Libraries IT staff at a computer.
Our Libraries IT staff have also been working hard to make sure our technology is up and running.

In the Great Room, crew members are primarily focused on stripping and varnishing the bookshelves in the alcoves, as well as sanding the windowsills and completing any outstanding plaster work.

A picture of Brian Hawk varnishing wood near a Great Room window.
Bryan Hauck, a Riley Construction crew member, works on varnishing wood in the Great Room. Hawk was excited to work in the space and told us that his mother used to work in the basement of Hale Library. What a neat connection!
A picture of stripped bookshelves in the Great Room.
Before being varnished, the bookshelves are repaired and stripped.
A picture of varnished wood laid out along the length of the Great Room.
The varnished pieces of the bookshelves are laid out along the length of the Great Room to dry.
A picture of a Great Room window and construction workbench.
Even under construction, there is so much beauty in the Great Room.

We are particularly excited about Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café located in the Dave and Ellie Everitt Learning Commons on the first floor. The café is close to completion and the temporary walls separating the café from the rest of the floor have been taken down. The first floor will be open during the fall semester, but plans are still being finalized for the opening of the café, which will be run by K-State Housing and Dining Services.

A picture of the new cafe on the first floor of the library.
We can’t wait for students and the community to have a cozy place to study and grab a cup of coffee!

Building update: Jumping into July

Posted on by Cailin Riley

As we jump into July, a lot of changes are coming to Hale Library. Besides the continuation of construction and progress on the building, the library will also welcome the public back for the first time since early March.

Starting July 1, the second floor of Hale Library will be open to visitors. Patrons must wear a mask or facial covering and practice social distancing while in the building. Services offered include access to the help desks, course reserves and computers. Extra steps will also be taken to promote safety and keep the environment clean. You can learn more about the reopening at our continuation of services page.

While the second floor will open to the public, the remaining floors continue to undergo a vigorous and rapid transformation.

In Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café, the tile behind the counters was installed, and the fireplace was completed.

A picture of the fireplace inside the cafe.
The “flames” in the fireplace do not produce any heat, but they do change colors and will provide a comfy atmosphere. Safety first!
A picture of the faux marble counter in the cafe.
Behind the cafe’s front counter, tile was added in a geometric design.

The Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab is undergoing more plaster work and drywall installation. The specific rooms for equipment and varying labs are starting to take shape—it’s only a matter of time until we can start moving in some tech!

This picture shows the view from the middle of the first floor of the Innovation Lab, looking toward the entrance to Historic Farrell Library.
This picture shows the view from the middle of the first floor of the Innovation Lab, looking toward the entrance to Historic Farrell Library.

In the Great Room, the protective boxes have been removed from the murals so that workers can perform plaster work around the edges. Removal of the boxes will also allow art restoration professionals to begin work on the murals later this fall.

A picture of the west end of the Great Room.
The view of the west end of the Great Room from the fourth floor balcony is fantastic! On the left hand side, you can see one of the decorative columns that span throughout the room.
A picture of the covered murals.
The murals are still covered to protect them while the crew continues plaster work around the edges.

The Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room will house the juvenile literature and curriculum materials collections. Virginia Carlson was a graduate of Kansas State College in 1952, a librarian and teacher. Virginia’s family has studied in Hale Library for more than four generations and they have invested in the building to honor her legacy. We are extremely grateful for their generosity!

A picture of the Virginia Carlson entrance.
A new entrance into the Virginia Carlson Family Reading Room is under construction.
A picture of the wall ornament in Historic Farrell Library.
During construction and plaster work in Historic Farrell Library, several interesting architectural details have become more noticeable. Here, you can see a wall ornament on the first floor.
A picture of a crew member working on a lift outside the library.
Late last month, crew members also worked on fixing the seals on several external windows in the building. It’s good to make sure that the cool air stays in during these warm summer days!

The Libraries plan to have the first and second floors open to students and the community at the start of the fall semester, with the upper floors opening collectively in early spring of 2021. Keep an eye on this blog for more stories and updates as we get closer to the new school year!

Top 10 Blog Posts

Posted on by Cailin Riley

A graphic that says, "Hale Library Top 10 Blog Post"

This week, we thought it would be interesting to look back at all the stories and updates we’ve posted in the last two years and share the top ten most viewed blog posts. A lot of progress has been made since the 2018 fire in Hale Library, and it is rewarding to see what stories have most resonated with the community following our story.

Below are the top ten most popular blog posts we’ve ever published, along with a quick synopsis of what each post focuses on. Feel free to click around and explore!

#1: After the Hale Library Fire: What’s past is prologue

This was our blog’s very first post, written just a few short weeks after the fire in Hale Library. In the aftermath of the fire, it quickly became apparent to us that we would have quite a story to share, and that the community wanted information about what happened to the library. We also knew people would want to see progress as we began the long journey to restore the building. In this first post, we shared the details of the fire, the heroic actions of the first responders who worked to save the library and pictures of leadership surveying the smoke and water damage.

A picture of Manhattan firefighters on the roof of the library.
Manhattan firefighters on the roof of Hale Library as the sun sets on May 22, 2018. Photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department.

#2: Hale Library: Week five update

Another early post, this entry shared more pictures of the library after much of the damage had been surveyed. During this time, construction revolved mainly around demolition and removing damaged ceiling, dry wall and carpeting. A lot of the technology and furniture was damaged from soot and had to be disposed of as well.

A picture of a broken pillar decoration on a damaged table.
The Great Room tables sustained a significant amount of water damage from the 2018 fire. Unfortunately, they could not be salvaged.

#3: Building update: We’re in full swing!

This spring, we shared new photos of some of the spaces in Hale Library that were near to completion. This included Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Café. We also highlighted the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab and efforts by the Digital Fabrication Lab to create face shields for local healthcare workers battling COVID-19.

A picture of Jahvelle Rhone holding a face shield.
Jahvelle Rhone, media coordinator for the Media Center, holds a newly 3D-printed face shield. Jahvelle and the K-State Digital Fabrication Club have been using 3D printers to create these face shields for local healthcare workers.

#4: What happens to wet books?

After the fire, the books in Hale Library sustained damage from water and soot. The wet books underwent a very delicate and special process to prepare them for transportation to a cleaning facility in Texas. Check out this post to learn more about how wet books are saved.

A picture of many boxes filled with books.
The wet books sat in the Housing and Dining Services freezer before they were transported to Ft. Worth, Texas for cleaning.

#5: Exploring alternative study spots with Brenna

The fire in Hale Library made it impossible for students to continue studying in the building. Students were suddenly looking for new places across campus to study, and so we worked with a student, Brenna, to share good study spots that students could make use of while Hale Library was unavailable.

#6: Building Update: Taking Things to the Next Level

We shared this post just a few weeks before the pandemic hit—at the time, we were all prepped for the second floor to open. As such, this post mainly shares photos of the second floor being outfitted with soft seating and computer spaces. We also shared pictures of the lattice work wood ceiling being finalized in the Great Room.

A picture of the Great Room ceiling woodwork.
In February, most of the Great Room ceiling woodwork was completed, including the tresses and purlins.

#7: Hale Library featured on “Rescue Heroes”

In January of 2019, Hale Library and the emergency first responders who responded to the fire were profiled in “Rescue Heroes: Global Response Team.” The episode gives an overview of the fire, including interviews from rescue and recovery personnel, students and faculty. You can watch the segment highlighting Hale Library at the YouTube video we link to in the post.

#8: Building Update: It’s all about the atmosphere

In late April, we shared a building update about further progress on the library. The scaffolding in the Great Room came down around that time and the wooden ceiling was completed. Purple lighting was also installed throughout the first and second floors of the building.

A picture of the Great Room lighting from the balcony.
From the fourth floor balcony within the Great Room, you get a great view of the completed ceiling woodwork and the new lighting.

#9: After the Fire: Where are they now?

After the fire, more than 80 K-State Libraries staff and faculty were left without access to an office space. Thankfully, more than 13 offices and departments graciously welcomed our staff into temporary work spaces. In this post, we shared photos about where everybody ended up.

#10: Giving thanks for the Manhattan Fire Department and all first responders

Close to the Thanksgiving holiday in 2018, K-State Libraries staff visited the Manhattan Fire Department Headquarters to say thank you for their work in saving Hale Library. The post features some of the firefighters who helped combat the fire, along with photos of them in action.

A picture of a fire engine in front of Hale Library.
A fire engine extends its ladder onto the northwest corner of Historic Farrell Library. May 22, 2018.

Building Update: the upper floors

Posted on by Cailin Riley

As summer approaches, we are closely following the rapid progress being made in Hale Library. This week, we’d like to highlight sections of the library that you might not have seen recent photos of, particularly the upper floors.

But first, an exciting update regarding the Great Room: the original bookshelves that were in the east and west alcoves are undergoing a vigorous repair process!

A picture of crew members repairing bookshelves.
Crew members repair the wooden bookshelves against the walls in the east and west alcoves in the Great Room.
A picture of a crew member varnishing bookshelves.
After the bookshelves are repaired, they are stripped and then varnished by hand. They look beautiful!

In other areas of Historic Farrell Library, further plaster work is being done on the first and second floors. In order to score the plaster, the radiators had to be pulled out. However, they will be repainted and eventually put back into place.

A picture of crew members working around a group of radiators.
The radiators have been pulled out from the wall and will be repainted before being put back into place. In the right hand corner, you can see crew members working on the plaster where the radiators were.
A picture of the third floor hallway, with the ellipse instruction room on the left.
On the left, you can see the ellipse shaped room, which will be a large instruction space made possible by The Friends of the K-State Libraries. On the right are future office spaces. The third floor will also have more books, giving it a more traditional library atmosphere.

Also on the third floor, work continues on multiple office spaces and the graduate student study rooms, located near the entrance to the Great Room. The study rooms will be in the same location they were previously, but they will be much improved.

A picture of the graduate student study rooms space.
The graduate student study rooms on the third floor provide a quiet study space specifically for graduate students.

The Academic Learning Center (ALC) on the fourth floor is also coming along. The ALC is a partnership between K-State Libraries and K-State Athletics that provides space for student athletes to receive academic support, including one-on-one tutoring.

A picture of the ALC overlook balcony.
The entrance to the ALC on the fourth floor overlooks the foyer outside the Great Room which will include a new exhibit space. The “We Are the Dream” mural that was located on the back wall of the ALC has been taken down, cleaned and restored. Once construction is complete, it will return to its original location.

On the fifth floor, mobile shelving is being removed in the Special Collections space in order to replace the mechanical system that moves the shelving units. The system is under the wood flooring and was damaged during the fire.

A picture of a room filled with white shelving units.
The white shelves in the space will actually be re-installed once the system is up and running. We are looking forward to having Special Collections return to this space.

As construction continues on these spaces, the Libraries are also working on a plan to reopen the completed areas of the building later this summer. Keep an eye on our website and the Libraries’ social media feeds for more information as it becomes available.

Rising from the ashes: the two-year anniversary of the Hale Library fire

Posted on by Cailin Riley

A graphic that says "Hale Library 2 Years After the Fire"

Two years ago, on May 22, 2018 at 4 p.m., things at Hale Library changed forever.

The fire and the resulting damage from water and smoke impacted several sections of the library, including Historic Farrell Library and the Great Room. As a result, nearly 130 employees found themselves out of their regular workspace and into more than 13 temporary work spaces throughout campus.

As a way of recognizing the immense progress that has been made in the two years since the fire, we wanted to share photos that show the tremendous progress we’ve made. As we get closer and closer to completing the renovation and restoration of the library, we hope you find as much inspiration from these photos as we do.

A picture of the Great Room, damaged, with water on the floor.
The West end of the Great Room, two days after the fire on May 22, 2018. Most of the damage to the library was a result of the heavy smoke that traveled throughout the building and the water used to extinguish the fire.
A picture of the Great Room currently, under renovation.
The West end of the Great Room today, after significant restoration efforts. All the wood beams from the ceiling were taken down, repaired, restored and then put back in the exact same spot.
A picture of a damaged acorn finial.
The acorns in the Great Room were in strong need of repair following the fire.
A picture of repaired acorn finials hanging from the ceiling.
The acorn finials were repaired and varnished to get them in shape for being reattached to the ceiling.

The catastrophic damage to the library was a hit to the entire K-State community, as Hale Library is often viewed as the heart of campus, and a place where everyone is welcome to share a quiet moment of reflection or study. At the time, it seemed that the incredible task of restoring the 550,000-square-foot building would be the greatest challenge the library and its staff have ever faced.

Two pictures side by side of the murals and holes in the ceiling following the fire.
On the left, a hole in the Great Room ceiling is shown where the fire broke through into the room, taken June 28, 2018. Today, boxes cover the Great Room murals to protect them during construction. The murals are stable and will be restored after all construction is complete.

But now, two years later, the challenge lies not in finishing the restoration of Hale Library, but in preparing for what comes next.

Despite the impact of COVID-19, construction continues on Hale Library at a rapid pace. Every week, the changes at the library become more and more visible—we would say that the library is starting to look like its old self again, but that wouldn’t be true. Instead, Hale Library is beginning to look like its new best self, a mix of the historic and the future.

On the first and second floors, the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab begins to take shape, introducing a creative space that will open new doors for students and patrons as they tackle projects with the latest technologies. On the third floor, the historic Great Room is being restored to its former glory, but the acorn finials hanging from the ceiling are newly varnished, the murals are being repaired with the latest restoration techniques and desperately needed electrical updates flow throughout the space. Similarly, the first and second floors of Historic Farrell Library will also be restored to showcase their beautiful architectural details, but the spaces will have new purpose as they house distinctive collections and comfortable study space with plenty of natural light.

A picture of the first floor, full of damaged furniture.
This was what the first floor looked like on June 11, 2018; much of the furniture was temporarily stored on the first floor.
A picture of student studying on the renovated first floor.
Students were able to experience the new first floor which opened last fall. The Dave and Ellie Everitt Learning Commons is a collaborative space with technology enabled group study rooms, open seating and so many whiteboards.

It’s these changes and more, that are beginning to reveal a next generation library.

A picture of covered furniture on the second floor.
The state of the second floor on June 14, 2018; furniture is covered with plastic wrap and being removed.
A picture of the renovated second floor.
The new second floor was completed this spring, and holds 99 computer stations for community use.
A side by side shot of the second floor sunflower window overlook; one is full of drainage tubes, the other with soft seating.
In June 2018, the second floor entrance was swarmed with white tubes that helped circulate air and dehumidify the building. Today, this second floor space has been repurposed into a “living room” area, complete with soft seating where students can enjoy this beautiful arched window.

We want to say a huge thank you to the library and IT staff for their patience throughout this journey, as well as their unwavering dedication to continuing to provide quality service to the community. We also want to extend our gratitude to the entire K-State community for their endless support.

In a year from now, on the third anniversary, it’s exciting to think about what it will be like in Hale Library. By then, the full library is expected to be open to the public and students and staff will once again have a place on campus to call home. The ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel is keeping our staff, in particular, positive and resilient. We also hope that by then, life will have returned to some kind of normalcy for us all.

It hasn’t been an easy road to restore Hale Library, nor has it been a short one. But we’re confident that the results will be well worth the wait.