By Alex Paul
For the Gazette-Times | Posted: Saturday, August 4, 2007 12:00 am
ALBANY - Usually filled with long rows of books, magazines and newspapers, the Linn-Benton Community College library is looking a little bare this week.
Staff from Greenberry Construction have stripped it down to cold concrete and brick.
The work is part of a $3 million renovation that will update both the library and the Learning Center. It will be paid for with $1.5 million in bond proceeds and $1.5 million from an anonymous donor, according to Kevin Nicholson, the college's facilities director.
Interior demolition began in early July and the entire project is to be completed by February 2008.
"Probably the biggest changes will be the addition of the elevator and the stairwell," Nicholson said.
The elevator will be housed in a new bumpout that goes into the courtyard. There will be new exterior steps to the courtyard and student seating areas will be added. There will be a lot of glass on the exterior wall.
"It's going to be quite a visual improvement," Nicholson said.
The library is temporarily housed in Industrial Building B, the same space used by the college bookstore during its recent renovation.
When finished, the library and Learning Center will occupy approximately 27,600 square feet of space.
The library is 35 years old and has had few changes over the years, Nicholson said. Improvements will include updates that will allow the college to take advantage of new technology. Electrical wiring will be updated to allow for more computers and the library's instruction room will be expanded.
Also planned is an enhanced lighting system and the addition of 14 study rooms, including four that will be soundproofed media rooms.
The Learning Center will be expanded by 7,200 square feet. Improvements there will include new study areas, increased instructional technology, space for tutoring and academic support services, six small study rooms, expansion of the computer lab, student testing space, a new math classroom, and a reading and study skills lab.
A study area will be shared by both the library and the Learning Center. An internal staircase and a new elevator will provide improved student access between the first and upper floors.
Another visual change will be a lowered ceiling to accommodate the expansion of the Learning Center on the second floor. Previously, the library had a tall ceiling that was poorly lighted.