Visalia Library Building Project

Moving: The First Week

2008-05-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

2008-04-04T16:21:00.000-07:00

News Release 4/4/08

Visalia Library Closing Temporarily

The Visalia branch of the Tulare County Library will be closed due to construction during the entire month of May. During this time, some of the library’s resources will be available in the bookmobiles just outside the library on Encina Street. Bookdrops will be available near the bookmobile for returning books. In June, in addition to the bookmobiles, a limited collection of resources, reference services and computers will be available in the partially completed children’s wing.

There will be no story time for preschoolers in May at the Visalia branch. Storytime will start up again in June on Wednesdays at 10 A.M. in the partially completed children’s section.

During the summer, there will be a small area for study tables. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope that the new library unveiled after the construction will make this all worthwhile! If there are any questions, please contact Mike Drake or Michael Sawyer at 733-6954.

Update

2008-03-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

The main branch building is next in line for remodeling and upgrading. This will cause some temporary changes. At some point in the next two months, the whole branch will be closed for about three weeks with limited services out of the bookmobile, while operations are shifted.

After the shift, the branch will open using the new lobby entrance, the remodeled portion and parked bookmobiles, allowing the project to continue. During this stage, which will last approximately three months, there will continue to be limitations on service . We apologize for the inconvenience.

The library staff is excited and looking forward to the completed project. Please ask for information or assistance at anytime.

2008-01-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

Be sure to check flickr for the latest Visalia Library Contruction pictures!

More progress...

2007-10-11T17:45:00.001-07:00

Be sure to check flickr for the latest Visalia Library Contruction pictures!

Progress

2007-08-16T17:53:00.001-07:00

More pictures on Flickr!

Inside the 1936 building

2007-07-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the inside of the 1936 building:

Follow the library construction on Flickr

2007-07-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

There are two Flickr accounts where you will find updated pictures of the ongoing construction at the Visalia Library:

VCM - Visalia Library's photos maintained by the project managers Vanir Construction Management, Inc.

Visalia Library Construction maintained by library staff.

Demolition continues in the courtyard

2007-07-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

Library Courtyard Demolition

2007-07-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

The courtyard that separates the 1936 building and the 1976 building is demolished. A lobby will be built here connecting the two buildings.

Lots of changes

2007-07-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Much has changed in the last couple of weeks:

A giant partition has been erected, closing off the old entrance to the library, including the old Circulation Desk.

The entire south side of the building is fenced off.

The temporary entrance on the north side of the building is being used (notice the shiny new book drops).

And the new circulation desk is now in operation.

Be sure to visit our Flickr account to see the rest of our photos!

Library CLOSED Monday and Tuesday

2007-06-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Visalia Library will be CLOSED on Monday, June 25th and Tuesday, June 26th.

On these days the current circulation desk area will be walled off and eventually demolished.

On Wednesday, when we open again, the public will enter the building using the temporary entrance on the north side of the building.

Sorry for the inconvenience! This will be the last closure for a while.

Walkways being poured...

2007-06-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

Walkways are being poured this morning for the new temporary entrance at the north side of the building:

Use of the temporary entrance may begin ...

2007-06-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

The County has procured the services of a concrete contractor. The work will begin this Friday. The work should be concluded by Monday June 25th. There may still be sprinkler and/or yard work that needs to be completed on the 25th or later.

So, we will start having customers using the temporary entrance starting on June 25th:

We do not know yet when the building contractor will put up the temporary wall in the 1976 building. It could be on June 25th. We may have to close a day or two while this is being done.

Update

2007-06-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday May 29th workers started mitigating the asbestos roof lining on the old Visalia City Library building. At this point, it looks like they may be finished at the end of this week or the beginning of next week.

The new cement work on the North side of the building has been delayed a bit. This will cause a delay in moving to the new entrance by at least a week. The soonest we will be using the temporary North entrance is June 25th.

Work on the roof of the 1936 building begins

2007-05-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

2007-05-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Thursday and Friday last week the reference desk was moved to its new and temporary location:

The new temporary circulation desk was set up near the emergency exit door on the north side of the building:

The new circulation desk and entrance will not be in operation until the current desk and entrance are blocked off for construction.

Here is what to expect in the coming weeks:

On Tuesday May 29th workers will start to mitigate the asbestos roof lining on the old Visalia City Library building. It is estimated that this process will take 3 weeks.

We will delay opening to the public on May 29th and May 30th until noon. This step is being taken to make sure that the public does not get exposed to asbestos. By June 1st the work on the roof will be far enough away from the courtyard that we can open the library at 10 am.

New cement work on the North side of the building will be poured. This will allow the public to use the new North entrance without walking on the grass or dirt. There will be two handicapped parking spaces added right off of the alley way and there will be a pad to locate our book-drops.

On Monday June 18th the Construction Company will mobilize. The fenced in area will dramatically increase and the courtyard will be closed. The public will be using our new North entrance.

Recent progress and what to expect this week

2007-05-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Collections have been moved and books shifted to accommodate the new temporary layout of the library during the construction period.

In the Juvenile area, the circulating encyclopedias and the Juvenile Spanish language materials have been moved next to the biographies behind the children’s service desk. The juvenile non-fiction collection has been compressed and the fiction collection has been moved to the opened non-fiction shelving.

The audio books have been moved from the adult area to the southernmost of the three freed juvenile aisles. The current periodicals have been moved to the next juvenile aisle.

We are currently shifting the Reference collection to the four vacated ranges on the north end of the fiction stacks.

The Library will be closed on Thursday May 17th so that some books and furnishings can be moved into storage. The two seven foot high ranges from reference will be broken down and placed in storage. The reference desk will be relocated adjacent to the north-east pillar running north-south where the microforms are presently located. Floor space will be created in the reference area through the reduction of furnishings. Items under consideration will include tables and seating on the main floor, index tables, the vertical file, map case, microform storage, microform reader/printers. It is hoped that be next week the temporary circulation desk will be installed in the former reference area. This desk will run north-south adjacent to the north-west pillar.

Library Operations During Construction

2007-05-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

PHASE ONE

The current phasing schedule allows the contractor 28 weeks for construction of the new lobby and remodel of the 1936 library. During construction of the lobby and 1936 building we will lose all public and staff access to the building from the south side of the lot. We will have a partition wall that runs from the corner of the bathrooms to the wall behind the elevator. This wall will seal off the present entrances and circulation area.

The construction fence will start at the southeast corner of the 1976 building and run south to Oak, west across Oak to Encina, and north up Encina to include the entire circle drive.

The north-west emergency exit door at the north end of the building will serve as the main entrance during construction of the lobby and 1936 building. We will pour new sidewalk(s) to the emergency exit door on the north lawn. Access during construction will be from the north lawn area. We will also designate new handicap parking spaces in the lot north of the loading dock.

During the last two months of phase one we will begin to box, remove and store various materials.

PHASE TWO

A closure will take place when we switch services to 1936 building and empty the 1976 building. This closure will be a maximum period of three weeks. We will operate on a limited basis in the new lobby and 1936 building for a period of 12 weeks.

CLOSURE PRIOR TO REOPENING

A closure will take place when the contractor turns over the finished building and we put everything back for the dedication. We will sustain library service on site using the bookmobiles.

Background

2007-05-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

In the spring of 2002 the Tulare County Library applied for grant funds from the California Library Bond Act of 2000 to remodel and expand the Visalia Branch Library. On December 19, 2002, this project was approved by the Library Bond Act Board, providing funds of $3,426,131 towards this project. These funds represent 65 percent of the projected costs. The remaining funds will be provided through a local partnership of the County of Tulare, the City of Visalia, and voluntary contributions. The City of Visalia has committed to $500,000. Tulare County has committed to over $750,000 from the County's Millennium Fund. The Visalia/Tulare County Library Foundation has spearheaded the drive to raise $650,000 in contributions. As of December of 2005, more than $500,000 had been contributed or pledged to the Foundation for this project. Tulare County is serving as the lead agency in this project. State funds are administered through the Office of Library Construction, a division of the State Library.

WHAT WILL THE PROJECT ACCOMPLISH?

The 1936 Library building has served as a storage facility since the 1976 Library was opened. Over the past three decades, the condition of the 1936 building has gradually deteriorated. Because of its historic nature and architectural features, there was a strong desire within the community to preserve the 1936 building. It was further proposed that the renovation of this building serve as the new Children's wing of the Visalia Library. This project will renovate the 1936 Library building and construct a new lobby connecting the two library buildings. Additional renovation of the 1976 building will be done to provide improved services, increased safety, and better access

HOW WILL LIBRARY SERVICE IMPROVE?

The new Children's wing will double the space available for children's programs and activities. It will provide room for a larger book collection and increase the number of public computers for children. This project will also provide for a homework center within the Children's wing. In addition to the Children's wing this project will improve access to Library Administration, expand the library's meeting room facilities, and provide an improved public computer lab.