Academic Library Renovations: Main Libraries Compared to Science or Engineering Branch Libraries
Joe Kraus, Science and Engineering Librarian, University of Denver, Penrose Library (jokraus@du.edu)

Abstract – Joe Kraus received 34 survey responses from a wide variety of academic main and science/engineering branch libraries. The survey asked about their recent renovations or renovation plans. Questions covered the number of volumes in the library, type of facility project, when it was completed, cost of the project and why a renovation or a new building was needed. He visited many of those institutions during a sabbatical in the fall of 2005. Quantitative and qualitative responses to the survey and personal observations from the site visits are presented.

Introduction – The Penrose Library at the University of Denver has been planning a renovation for several years. I wanted to visit other similar sized institutions to see first-hand how they renovated their academic library. Since I am the science and engineering librarian, I also knew of several academic science and engineering branch libraries that had been renovated. Even though I would not be able to travel to all libraries that have had renovations, the sabbatical offered me time to mail out a survey, receive and analyze the survey data. I also had the opportunity to travel and visit many of those libraries. Over a three week span, I was able to visit many main (multidisciplinary) libraries and a large number of science and engineering libraries.

Sci-Eng Libraries Responding to the Survey
Oberlin College	Science Center Library
University of Akron	Science & Technology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Grainger Engineering
University of Kansas	Spahr Engineering
Univeristy of Massachusetts – Amherst	Integrated Sciences & Engineering
University of Michigan	Art, Architecture & Engineering
University of Virginia	Charles L. Brown Science & Eng.

Comments from those libraries in the survey. Why did your institution embark on this facility project?

1) We wanted to create more space for users by transferring older materials to storage. We wanted to create better space for users, too: more comfortable, inviting, and especially more conductive to group study and collaboration. 2) The building was getting shabby, and did not reflect well on the school of engineering or the original donors.

Very Poor and non user-friendly before. Need for facility to develop mechanisms for improved information retrieval and emerging technologies. Need for additional study space and workstation labs.

To merge information technology and resources into a much needed large facility that would be available for study and research help 24/7.

The need for improved lab and teaching space was the principal driver for the project. The old library was part of the old chemistry-biology building, and our need for space had been critical for 20+ years, so it was naturally included in the planning for a new science center.

To improve physical conditions in library for staff, patrons and collections and to modernize facility to permit more up-to-date services.

Collection and public computer workstations occupied all available space so there was virtually no study space. Staff work areas were also very cramped and often located in main traffic areas with no secure work space. No classroom, conference room, staff room, or individual study rooms.

Budget cuts and early retirement reduced our workforce and we needed to consolidate two branch libraries into one. The University wanted to take back space allocated to one of the branch libraries to meet other campus needs.

Science/Engineering Libraries that I visited
University of Kansas	Spahr Engineering Library
Linda Hall Library	Kansas City
Washington University (St. Louis)	Physics Library
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Grainger Engineering Library
University of Wisconsin at Madison	Physics Library
Oberlin College	Science Center Library
Pennsylvania State Univ.	Engineering and Physical & Mathematical Sciences
Cornell University	Engineering
University of Massachusetts at Amherst	Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library
Princeton University	Astrophysics and Engineering
Johns Hopkins University	Applied Physics Laboratory, Gibson Library
University of Virginia	Charles L. Brown Science and Engineering Library
Virginia Tech	Newman Library
Miami University (Ohio)	Brill Science Library
National Center for Atmospheric Research	Boulder, CO
Bold were recently renovated

Findings from the site visits. Many libraries provide:

• Plenty of group study space and a wide variety of group and individual study spaces.

• Projectors or a big plasma/flat screen display units within a group study room so 4-6 students can work on projects together.

• Coffee bars. OK, this is not really all that new, but institutions have various arrangements of coffee bars. Some in the entrance, some in the back which draws people through, some allow the coffee to be taken into the library, some not.

• Space to non-library but complementary functions, such as writing centers, multimedia production center, engineering/GIS software labs, or a meeting room for teaching and research faculty.

• Low use materials in compact storage. There is great use of off-site storage. Some institutions put some of their microfiche and microfilm off-site.

• Online-only subscriptions for as many journals as possible, but they still prominently display current periodicals received in print.

• A knowledge commons. (Usually found in main libraries, not in branch libraries.)

• Multiple instruction rooms with differing numbers of computers. Some are laptop instruction rooms with moveable tables. The placement of electric outlets presents a challenge.

• Comfortable furniture, good lighting and “study nooks”.

• Nice display cabinets and rooms for “special collections”.