Installation of A/C Unit

The air conditioning unit was installed on the west wing today (the unit on the east wing has been in place for a few days), and we were lucky enough to get some photos of the process.  It involved a 200-ton capacity crane with 250 feet of boom.  The A/C unit itself is about the size of a school bus.  Take a look below!

Continuing Work on the New Wings

Work is continuing on the new wings!  The landscape is changing on a daily basis as the construction crew makes headway on the new library.  Check out the photos below of the latest progress, and be sure to take a look at the slideshow, which includes more photos not seen here.

Progress on the west wing

Supports are constructed on the new east wing.

The east wing gains a roof.

The West Wing Goes Up

Support beams and trusses for the west wing have gone up, and the foundation has been poured for the east wing.  For even more photos, view the slideshow at Flickr.

The support beams go up on the west wing.

Work continues the next day...

...and the next one, when the trusses are installed.

A view of the new west wing from Avenue M.

The concrete foundation for the new east wing.

Forever Bricks Fundraiser

Make your mark on the new library!  The Huntsville Library and the Library Board are selling "Forever Bricks" to give the community an opportunity to make a lasting impression upon the new library building.  A personalized brick is an ideal way to honor a loved one or demonstrate your own commitment to the mission of the public library.  These "Forever Bricks" will make up the Plaza at the new entrance near 13th Street.

Each 4" x 8" "Forever Brick" is fired and guaranteed to last as least as long as the life of the library building.  The bricks are being sold for $20 each and can be engraved with up to two lines of text of the purchaser's choosing.  If you would like to contribute, fill out the form by clicking on one of the links below, print it out, and bring it by the library or mail it to us with your check made out to Huntsville Public Library.  Use the first link if you have Infopath on your computer, and use the second link if you do not.

Forever Bricks Fundraiser (Microsoft Infopath)

Forever Bricks Purchase Form (.pdf)

Temporary Walls and Concrete

Things are feeling a little claustrophobic at the library lately.  Temporary walls have been built inside the library in preparation for the existing walls to be torn down, and it's made the space inside a little smaller.  It's all worth it, though, since the end result will be a library building more than three times as large as the current one.  

Concrete has also been poured for the new west wing.  Check out the photos of the action below, and be sure to click on each image to enlarge it.  We've also set up a Flickr stream so you can see all the photographs of the renovation and expansion in one place.  It's got all of the photos from the blog as well as a few extras.  Go here to see it.

Children's Coordinator Janelle Valera helps mark off the north side of the building while the temporary walls are built.

The frame goes up on the east side.

Another shot of the frame on the east side.

A behind the scenes look of the action.

The completed frame on the east side.

The north side of the building before the temporary wall is built.

The sheet rock goes up.

The gaps are filled in with putty.

A shot of the west side foundation.

Colorful Library Plan

A few library visitors have asked to see a more easily-decipherable plan for the interior of the new building.  Your wish is our command!  Click on the image below to enlarge it.

Foundation Photos

These past couple of weeks, the construction crew has been working on the foundation for the new wings.  Take a look at the progress below!

The west wing is built up with tightly packed earth.

Concrete is poured for the foundation pillars in the new west wing.

Concrete is poured for the foundation pillars in the new east wing.

Another shot of the west wing.

Check out the story in the Huntsville Item about the renovation progress.