In response to a posting yesterday regarding the Interim Library, here are the facts and answers as we know them today. I apologize for the length, but we felt we needed to give as much detail as possible. WHY DO SOME MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY (MPL) MATERIALS NEED TO GO INTO STORAGE DURING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY? The Central Library collection numbers 2.3 million items, of which 15% (or about 390,000 items) are on open shelves directly accessible by patrons. At least as much of the collection will be available on open shelves when the library opens November 1, 2002 at its Interim Location in Marquette Plaza (250 Marquette Ave. S., kitty-corner from the current library). However, the Interim Location is considerably smaller than the current Central Library, so some portions of the collection do need to be put into storage. MPL staff is committed to providing a high level of service with access to as much of the collection as possible during packing, moving, and while in our Interim Location. The exact layout of the Interim Location is still being developed, but following is a summary of what can be expected regarding the accessibility of MPL materials in the coming months: Nonfiction classified by Library of Congress (LC). Nearly all of the nonfiction materials acquired by MPL since 1968 will be accessible at the Interim Location, either on open shelves where library users can browse, or in closed stacks where staff will retrieve them on request in a matter of moments. Older Nonfiction. In general, materials acquired before 1968 are in closed stacks. At this time, MPL is in the process of moving approximately 100,000-150,000 useful but low-demand books to permanent off-site storage at the Minnesota Library Access Center (MLAC), where they will be maintained in superior environmental conditions. These materials continue to be listed in the MPL catalog and will generally be available within 24-48 hours after being requested. The remainder of the older nonfiction collection will be stored in temporary off-site storage during the interim, and will be unavailable until the New Central Library is opened. During the interim, staff will assist borrowers in obtaining these titles from other libraries through interlibrary loan service. Fiction. Discussions are still underway to determine the portion of the fiction collection that will be available in our Interim Location. What is currently available will still be available and every attempt will be made to provide access to the large fiction collection now in the stacks to meet library users' expectations. Periodicals. In general, the latest issues of periodicals (current and preceding year) will be available at the Interim Library. All older issues of periodicals will be stored off-site and will be unavailable until the New Central Library is opened. Services such as interlibrary loan and full-text online databases will be offered as alternative sources of periodicals. Government Documents. Approximately 90% of printed government documents will be stored off-site until the new Central Library is opened. Electronic access to the most recent information (approximately 1995 to the present) is largely available via the Internet. Reference service will continue, and every effort will be made to help patrons obtain the information needed. Audio-Visual Materials: CDs, audiobooks, and videocassettes and DVDs will continue to be available at the Interim Library.. Other AV material, primarily LP records, will be stored off-site. Packing and Moving The older issues of periodicals will be the first portion of the collection to be packed for temporary off-site storage. This work will begin in April, so older periodicals will be unavailable as of approximately April 8. Advance notice will be provided to library users once a library moving company is selected and a schedule approved. Alternative services such as interlibrary loan and full-text databases will be provided as soon as MPL's periodical backfiles become unavailable. Similarly, when the packing process begins for moving the older nonfiction collection into temporary off-site storage, staff will assist users in obtaining requested items through interlibrary loan. While at the Interim Location, staff will continue to provide first-rate reference service to all users and will make every attempt to obtain materials that patrons want from other libraries if the materials are not currently available from the MPL collection. We are working closely with the architect team to design the New Central Library so that it will be easier to use, with at least 50% of the collection directly available on open shelves. The remainder will be in adjacent storage areas to facilitate quick retrieval by staff and also allow direct access for researchers. This fundamental service improvement is one of the main reasons why we need a New Minneapolis Central Library. WHY NOT STAY IN THE CURRENT LIBRARY AND BUILD ACROSS THE STREET? Costs for an Interim Library have been included in the Project budget since planning for the New Central Library began. The original project budget had estimated $10 million for Interim Location, but due to a favorable real estate market, the cost of equipping and moving to the Interim Location is now $7.25 million. Staying in the current building until 2006 is not an option. The current library building is at the end of its useful life, and its mechanical and electrical systems are already stretched beyond their capability. It is questionable whether the old escalators and elevators, the antiquated conveyor system, and outmoded heating & cooling systems could survive another four years of use. In 1999, the Fire Marshal ordered installation of a sprinkler system throughout the building (estimated cost $1.7 million). When the Library Board and City Council approved moving to an Interim Location in summer 2002, the Fire Marshal agreed not to enforce this requirement. However, if the Library were not to be demolished this fall, the sprinkler system and an additional $1.2 million of work would be required. The Fire Code also would require a secondary exit on the 3rd Street side of the building, but the cost of this change was not estimated because it would be so extensive that it would only make sense if the library were to stay in the current building permanently. Rehabilitating the current building would be more disruptive to library users because no service could be provided for many months while the necessary changes were being made. Relocating the bulk of the collection to the Interim Location will provide the best possible library service while the old building is being demolished and the New Central Library is being built. The excellent staff of the Central Library will continue to provide first-rate reference service to all users and will make every attempt to obtain materials that patrons want from other libraries if the materials are not available from the MPL collection while we are at the Interim Location. Jan Feye-Stukas, Acting Director Minneapolis Public Library 300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55408 PH: 612-630-6202 FAX: 612-630-6210 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (also of Ward 10)
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