The NEW Mahomet Public Library

Additional furnishings

2010-07-07T14:29:00.006-05:00

More furniture has been added since I last took pictures at the new building:

Older Children's Department

Young Children's Department

Young Adult Department

Reading Area

Adult Department

From the old to the new!

2010-07-07T14:22:00.003-05:00

This afternoon, the movers unpacked the first truckloads of books in the new building.

The Children's Department

Shelving the DVD collection

Opening date for new building

2010-07-07T10:35:00.003-05:00

The tentative opening date for the new Mahomet Public Library building at 1702 E. Oak Street is Sunday, July 25.

The Main Street location is now closed, but will be open from 5:00-7:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, July 7
Monday, July 12
Wednesday, July 14
for patrons to pick up books that have arrived through interlibrary loan
(no other services will be available).

Interlibrary loan pickup will resume at the new location the week of July 25.

You may return books to the outdoor book drops at the new location beginning July 15. The book return drop box at the Main Street location will be closed as of July 14.

Moving Day!

2010-07-07T10:30:00.002-05:00

The movers are here, boxing up books for the new library. Here's what's happening as of 10:30 this morning:

Library Closing Dates for Move

2010-06-10T20:06:00.001-05:00

The Mahomet Public Library will be closed beginning July 4
as we move to our new location at 1702 E. Oak St.!

The Main St. location will be open from 5:00-7:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, July 7
Monday, July 12
Wednesday, July 14
for patrons to pick up books that have arrived through interlibrary loan
(no other services will be available).

Interlibrary loan pickup will resume at the new location the week of July 18.

You may return books to the outdoor book drops at the new location beginning July 15. The book return drop box at the Main Street location will be closed as of July 14.

June 10, 2010

2010-06-10T19:53:00.001-05:00

Sneak Peek Book Event

2010-05-27T13:56:00.000-05:00

Friday, June 18, 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, June 19, 1-5 p.m.

Get a “Sneak Peek” inside the new Mahomet Public Library Building, 1702 E. Oak St., and help us fill the new shelves at our “Buy it and Leave it” event on Friday, June 18 from 5-7 p.m., and Saturday, June 19 from 1-5 p.m. Browse a selection of new books and audiovisual materials that are ready to be added to the shelves priced from $5-$25. When you find an item you’d like to purchase as a donation to the library, we’ll add a bookplate with your name or the name of someone you’d like to honor, and the book will be added to the library’s shelves.

You don’t have to purchase an item to get a “Sneak Peek” of the new building-be one of the first to see inside before opening day! For more information, visit the website at www.mahometpubliclibrary.org.

Shelves are being installed!

2010-05-27T12:31:00.003-05:00

Take a look at the shelving being installed...the library isn't a wide open space anymore! The shelving is a work in progress-some shelves are still being assembled, and end panels need to be added.

Carpet and Counter Tops

2010-05-17T15:00:00.001-05:00

Many changes inside!

2010-05-13T14:40:00.001-05:00

April 22, 2010

2010-04-26T16:01:00.001-05:00

April 12, 2010

2010-04-12T11:35:00.001-05:00

April 1, 2010

2010-04-01T14:05:00.002-05:00

Lynn met Terri and Maggie from Stocks at the new building today to assure that the colors chosen for the furnishings complement the interior colors. I was able to come along and take some photos of the progress!

Photos from March 18, 2010

2010-03-18T11:30:00.003-05:00

Library Director Lynn Schmit brought in some photos today, and now I can't wait to visit the building myself! More color is being added to the walls, as well as textured wall coverings. Ceramic tile is being installed in the entryway, and work on the lighting and the addition of ceiling tiles continues. Check it out for yourself:

A lot can happen in one week

2010-03-08T13:17:00.007-06:00

I walked in the door of the new Mahomet Public Library building today, and exclaimed, "There are changes since I was here just a week ago!" Ceramic tile was popping up on walls and floors in the restrooms.
Light fixtures were also being hung, as you can see in this staff workroom. The fixtures used in the young adult section really set it apart from the rest of the library...they're a nice dark red.
Here's what the library will look like as you walk in the front doors:
A view from the Northeast corner of the library, by the fireplace, across to the Southwest corner, the older children's department:
This picture of the carpet doesn't do it justice. In reality, the color is a shade of green, but you can see the pattern:

Later in the week, I will post a progress update as presented by Kate Smith at tonight's board meeting.

Big changes!

2010-03-04T14:14:00.002-06:00

I had the opportunity to visit the new library building on Monday, March 1, and was amazed at the progress. Painting has begun, and the colors are warm and inviting. The ceiling grid is almost completely in place, and you can get a real feel for the space-the size of the rooms and the height of the ceilings. It's something you just can't capture in photos, but I think you'll be impressed with the changes. I know I was.

Latest update

2010-02-11T11:13:00.002-06:00

A few staff members visited the building site today, and it sounds like taping, mudding, and sanding of the drywall is taking place now. Below, a few staff members check out their future work room!

At Monday's board meeting, Kate Smith, project coordinator, reported that building construction is just over 70% complete. Even though that seems like completion is near, there are still plenty of things to do before the library is ready to open. Kate reported that within the next month, we can expect painting of the walls to begin, and work on the ceiling to start. Measurements for woodwork such as chair rail and trim should take place this month also. Last week, a group of staff and a trustee visited Stocks in Champaign, along with a designer from Apace Design to look at and try numerous pieces of furniture. This visit helped us determine what furnishings will best meet our needs and the comfort of our patrons in the new building.

Drywall is up!

2010-02-08T12:14:00.003-06:00

This video contains pictures taken January 29, 2010. You can really visualize what the inside of the building will look like (minus shelves, furniture, etc...)

Windows!

2010-02-01T13:38:00.002-06:00

This picture was taken today, and you can see windows if you look to the right side of the picture. Also check out the green metal roofing material that's been installed on the upper portion of the roof. More updates to come soon!

Latest update

2010-01-25T10:16:00.002-06:00

Here are the latest updates on the new building project:

*The drywall is up, but not finished. It will take 3-4 weeks to do the finish work, then the walls will be ready for paint.

*The metal roof is being installed on the south side of the building, but the colder temperatures may put this on hold.

*Heating/AC work continues.

*All of the exterior windows have been installed except the 9 high ones on the south side of the building.

I'm also including a picture taken by Roger Kirkwood in early January of the brickwork that's been done on the back exterior of the building.

Progress update

2010-01-14T10:17:00.003-06:00

The library board received an update from Project Coordinator Kate Smith at Monday's board meeting, and here's what's happening with the new library project:

A few items, such as masonry, roofing, siding, and fascia are on hold until the weather warms up. Installation of plumbing, heating/air conditioning, and electrical are progressing. In the next month, contractors plan to work on windows, drywall work will continue, and roofing and masonry will progress if the weather allows.

Construction is just over 60% complete!

Update

2010-01-11T10:40:00.004-06:00

With the building enclosed now, the photo updates may not be as frequent as in the past. Here are a few photos of some changes inside. Later in the week I will post information presented at tonight's board meeting regarding construction progress.

The steel framework

Putting up the drywall

An area with drywall...NICE!

December 17, 2009 photos

2009-12-17T16:14:00.003-06:00

I was able to visit the building site today, and it always amazes me to see the progress! Interior studs are in, so you can see where rooms will be located, and can visualize where desks, computers, shelves, etc. will be located. Crews were working on electrical and installing door frames when we were in. The building has styrofoam sheathing on the outside, which you can see as you drive by, but to further weatherproof, there is a blue-green spray foam inside coating the walls. Plumbing work has been done, and some ductwork has been installed as well.

Mahomet Public Library Receives Donation

2009-12-17T16:08:00.002-06:00

Mahomet Public Library Director Lynn Schmit accepts a donation from Linda Farrand on behalf of the Pinetree Neighborhood Association. The Neighborhood Association held a book swap fundraiser to benefit the library.

Photos from Dec. 5, 2009

2009-12-10T12:26:00.003-06:00

Roger Kirkwood has been taking beautiful photographs of the library building progress, and I hope to put a sampling of those up in the next few weeks. For now, here's a sampling of photographs from December 5:

Week of Nov. 9th

2009-11-19T14:10:00.003-06:00

If you've gone by the new library site, you'll see that the building has been covered in blue sheathing! You can see the progress below:

Goals for the next month

2009-11-05T08:30:00.002-06:00

According to an update from Kate Smith, project coordinator, these are some of the things Vanguard expects to accomplish by the end of November:

1. Roughing in the plumbing, heating/cooling, and electrical for the ceiling area.
2. More door and window frames are to be delivered and installed.
3. Interior metal studs will arrive on site and be installed.
4. After roughing in of utilities is complete, additional layers of the roof will be added.
5. Wall sheathing material is expected to arrive the first week of November. Exterior wall masonry will begin after sheathing is complete and the stone is delivered.

All in all, the progress is on schedule, and the building is expected to be enclosed by the mid-December target date. All too soon, it won't be easy for us to see the progress, as it will be going on inside the enclosed building!!

Look at the change!

2009-11-02T14:08:00.004-06:00

It has been two weeks since I took photos at the building site, and look at the change between these pictures and the last ones posted! There's been framing work done, and today they were working on the roof. It was fun to watch the large forklift raise the roof panels to waiting workers who hefted them into place. They're making great progress getting the building closed in. I'm anxious to hear the updates presented by Kate Smith at next week's board meeting. I'll try to get some more pictures of the interior of the builiding, as well as post some pictures of the color palette soon!

Latest progress

2009-10-19T13:51:00.002-05:00

Kate Smith, Project Coordinator, shared the latest progress on the new library building at the October 12 board meeting. Roof trusses have gone up, as you can see in the picture below. Metal stud framing was scheduled to begin the first part of October. Exterior masonry materials are also being ordered. During the month of October, the focus is on finishing the parking paving and working on wall framing, trusses, sheathing, insulation, etc. to get the building enclosed before winter.

I took the following pictures today, Monday, October 19th.

Building progress update

2009-10-05T12:39:00.002-05:00

Kate Smith, Project Coordinator for the new library building project, provided me with some information regarding progress on the new library building. First, a lot of the concrete for the drive and parking lot has been poured. If the weather holds out, the rest may be completed this week. They have started backfilling around the paved area, and hope to do temporary grass seeding along the south side of the building before the weather turns too cold. The installation of the structural steel is on schedule and should be completed early this week, and roof trusses will be delivered mid-week. Exterior wall framing starts this week, and the exterior masonry choices have been approved by the library board. The primary focus right now is to get the building enclosed before winter. What to watch for in the next few weeks: framing, trusses, sheathing, insulation, and masonry being installed!

Growing up!

2009-10-01T09:22:00.003-05:00

The building is really starting to take shape! Photos taken September 30, 2009.

September 26, 2009

2009-09-28T08:30:00.004-05:00

More wonderful progress on the new library building...

Bathroom/Tornado Shelter takes shape

The News-Gazette also had a picture of workers putting up the block walls of the bathroom in the Tuesday, September 22, 2009 edition, page B-2.

The beginnings of the steel frame

Mid-September progress

2009-09-21T10:01:00.001-05:00

See how things are shaping up at the construction site. Watch for the structural steel to make an appearance soon!

Progress Report

2009-09-17T16:03:00.003-05:00

As you can see, more concrete has been poured. Parking should be much easier at the new location! In the next few weeks we should see progress on the parking lot and the arrival of the structural steel! Color choices are also being made, for the interior and exterior of the building. The library director, a trustee, and library staff member spent hours looking through color samples for the interior of the building - everything from wall coverings and carpet to the color of bathroom stalls. The color scheme has been described as earth-tones, similar to the colors you see in the soybean fields this time of year, in inviting combinations of green, brown and gold.

Update from September 12, 2009

2009-09-14T08:45:00.002-05:00

Again, it's been almost 2 weeks since I've visited the site of the new library, and the changes are exciting! The south parking lot has been poured, and when I visited on Saturday, it looks like the north half of the library floor has been poured, too. They've framed up where the lane into the parking area will be poured, and you can see irrigation pipes under the lane. According to the last report, the project is on schedule. I may have more to share after tonight's board meeting, but for now, enjoy some pictures of the progress!

August 31, 2009 Pictures

2009-08-31T13:14:00.001-05:00

Slide show of Photos from Aug. 21 & 24

2009-08-24T10:19:00.001-05:00

Pictures from August 24, 2009

2009-08-24T08:59:00.003-05:00

I was unable to visit the construction site last Monday, so imagine my surprise when I stopped by today and saw all the work that had been done. The area around the footings had been filled in with dirt, and the "floor" of the building has been filled in, too. You can see PVC pipes sticking up from the ground, a system hidden under this new dirt that's been added. And while I don't know the official name, there are large concrete pipes lined up at the site, waiting to be installed. Check out some of the pictures below.

Pictures from August 10, 2009

2009-08-10T09:36:00.002-05:00

Footings and Rebar work

2009-08-05T11:20:00.003-05:00

Men at Work

2009-07-27T13:36:00.001-05:00

Photos taken Monday, July 27, 2009.

Finding the right furnishings

2009-07-27T11:37:00.002-05:00

Mid-July, four staff members visited the exhibitor hall at the American Library Association Convention to learn more about products available to libraries. This was a great chance to meet many vendors of library products in one place at one time. We tried out chairs, tables, and desks, and found out about shelving and storage options. It was valuable to get ideas of what may work in the new library building, and to explore the comfort, quality and versatility of a variety of products.

Construction begins!

2009-07-22T10:43:00.001-05:00

Trouble viewing videos?

2009-06-17T10:58:00.001-05:00

I have found that the videos may not play if you're using Mozilla Firefox as your browser. Please try Internet Explorer if you are having difficulties.

Great Groundbreaking Photos!

2009-06-17T10:48:00.001-05:00

So many people came out to help break ground for the new library...thanks for your support!

More groundbreaking photos

2009-06-05T11:50:00.001-05:00

General Contractor

2009-06-03T09:56:00.003-05:00

At a special meeting of the board of trustees on Monday, June 1, 2009, a construction contract was awarded to the responsible bidder submitting the lowest acceptable bid, Vanguard Contractors of Pekin, IL. Once the necessary permits are obtained, the actual groundbreaking will begin!

Thank You!

2009-06-01T10:22:00.004-05:00

Thank you to everyone that attended the groundbreaking ceremony! If you were unable to attend, but would like to read about the event, there is an article in Sunday edition of the News-Gazette, or you can read it online here.

Pictures of the event coming soon!

Short library closing for groundbreaking

2009-05-27T19:26:00.001-05:00

The Mahomet Public Library will be CLOSED from 12:45 to 2:15 Saturday, May 30 to allow library staff to attend the library groundbreaking ceremony. Please join us!

Groundbreaking Events

2009-05-19T10:37:00.001-05:00

There’s something for everyone at the groundbreaking ceremony May 30th at 1:00 p.m. Join us at the new library site at the corner of Highway 150 and Churchill Road, bring your shovel, and help break ground for the new library building. Governor Jim Edgar will be guest speaker, and the Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School chorus will provide entertainment. Kids can dig in the sand box for treasures and enjoy free sno-cones prepared by the Mahomet Area Youth Club. After the ceremony, join us for cake served by Friends of the Library volunteers. We hope to see you all there!

You're invited!

2009-05-19T09:52:00.002-05:00

Save the Date!

2009-04-06T11:25:00.001-05:00

May 30, 2009

GROUNDBREAKING EVENT

For the new Mahomet Public Library

Come and be a part of Mahomet’s history

Everyone is welcome—bring your shovel and help us get started

Groundbreaking events start at 1:00 p.m.
at the new library site, east of Sandy Ridge Subdivision on Highway 150

Please plan to celebrate this special day
More details coming soon
www.mahometpubliclibrary.org

Watch our new library grow!

2009-04-02T14:09:00.000-05:00

This is the place to view and read about all the progress during the construction of the new Mahomet Public Library building. Stay tuned for more information.