News
 

Library construction is late, but on budget

Honors College will move into new wing of Anderson Library during Spring Break

By Geronimo Rodriguez
Senior Staff Writer

Save for some kinks in its construction schedule and a few more twists and turns for students, everything from fund-raising to accessibility is going as planned for the M.D. Anderson Memorial Libraryis $45 million expansion and renovation project, Dean of Libraries Dana Rooks said.

Meanwhile, Honors College officials are delaying their move to the new quarters because, as Associate Dean Bill Monroe said, "we donit want to disturb the students and faculty."

Although construction would allow The Honors College to move into its new quarters in the library expansion as early as Feb. 15, Monroe said, the college has decided to wait until March 12, the Friday before Spring Break.

Monroe said the transition will take several days, "packing and unpacking, so (Spring Break) would be the most reasonable time for the move, but itis still a moving target."

Regarding construction delays at the library, Rooks said, "weire behind schedule, but weire under budget."

In December, Rooks said the construction would be complete by October of this year, but she said Tuesday the completion date has been pushed back to December.

Rooks said the new main entrance will be complete by the end of February. Until then, she said, students will have to follow temporary signs directing them from the partially completed entrance lobby to the libraryis accessible areas.

"Youill find that students around here are pretty rational people," she said. "Everything they need can still be accessed, so they know weire trying to do this for them."

Rooks said the library hasnit received complaints regarding the construction or the clamor that comes with it.

Sei Kidau, a business junior, said he spent about 30 minutes at the library Tuesday reading over his syllabi and getting organized.

"Every now and then Iid hear a bang, but it was nothing too serious," Kidau said. "The earlier it ends, the better ... but I realize (the construction) will only benefit us."

As the idea of a better library is getting students like Kidau to sit tight, it is also helping officials raise money for the $45 million project, $25 million of which was supplied by the University, Rooks said.

It was announced Thursday that a $20 million fund-raising campaign had been completed, with a large percentage of donations from the community and a $500,000 challenge grant from the private, independent Kresge Foundation.

Rooks said when the projectis fund-raising reached $18 million, Kresge officials said the foundation would donate the final half-million if the campaign raised $19.5 million by Dec. 31.

"(Those who contributed) realized that the library is truly the intellectual heart of the University," Rooks said. "This is where students come to get the tools thatill help them get their education.

"Sitting at your breakfast table to study just isnit going to work," she said.
 

 Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu