Library
Simmons Library Renovation: Completed!
September 2007
Project Summary
The Library as Place
In recognition of the integral role of the Simmons Library in the successful implementation of the educational goals and mission of the university, the Board of Trustees approved a major renovation and expansion for the Library in Jan 2003.
The project included razing the former 2-story library building, and renovating and expanding the adjacent 5-story Lefavour Hall to provide a new 121,000 square feet multiuse facility, an increase of 46,700 sf over the previous buildings. The new Beatley Library, located within Lefavour Hall, is 45,500 sf, increasing library space by 43%. Lefavour Hall also houses administrative departments: Advancement, Sponsored Research and Technology; academic departments: Communications and Modern Languages; classrooms, event spaces and a café.
The Building In Brief
- Beatley Library: 45,500 sf, shelving for 240,000 volumes, 14 group rooms for students, 2 college meeting spaces, 552 study seats, a 22 seat library instruction classroom, a 22 seat media listening and viewing room, a 14 seat Archives Reading Room, 132 computer workstations and 41 in-house circulating laptops.
- Lefavour Hall: 121,000 sf, 7 college meeting rooms, 7 college classrooms, 2 college instructional computing classrooms, cafe.
Library Highlights
- Dramatic glass tower providing a new entrance to campus and the Library. Secure single point of entry to the Library from the first level of the multi-use Lefavour Hall building.
- Welcoming “ living room ” immediately inside the Library entrance, providing lounge seating and browsing of displays of New Books, 1200 Current Periodicals, and Diversions books and magazines (popular reading).
- Comfortable, productive study environment encouraged through generous windows that maximize natural light, wifi throughout, colorful fabrics, oversized cherry wood tables and carrels, accent table lights.
- Shelving for 240,000 volumes through a mix of traditional shelves, periodical display shelves, and easy push-button operated compact shelving.
- 552 individual and collaborative study seats of many types, including private study carrels, large cherry wood tables, and soft lounge seating with foot stools and end tables. 90% of seats provide power hook-ups, with the remaining soft seating in quiet, secluded study areas designed to appeal to those who prefer to work away from the tapping of keyboards.
- 14 high tech group study rooms respond to the shift towards collaborative learning, group projects, and team based work. Students can talk as a group, practice a presentation, do a mock interview, and meet with a librarian, professor, writing tutor or technology specialist. All rooms are technology ready to have a laptop plugged in; many provide a built-in projector, and some even include video recording capabilities.
- New 22 student Library Instruction Classroom facilitates hands-on teaching and learning of information literacy skills that promote academic, professional, and personal success in today’s environment of rapidly-changing technology. An additional 2 computing classrooms and 7 flexible classrooms are in Lefavour Hall.
- 22 seat Media Viewing and Listening room, adjacent to the media collections. Students can watch a film on DVD, view physical therapy demonstrations, or listen to language instruction.
- New event and meeting spaces (2 in the Library and 7 in Lefavour Hall) are available to be booked by faculty, staff and students through the College’s Conferences and Events Office.
- Reference Desk (research assistance), Circulation, Reserves & Inter-Library Loan Desk, and Technology Desk (technical assistance/Student Help desk): 3 service points co-located immediately inside the main entrance, in the Information Commons , offer convenient and comprehensive assistance for all users.
- The Information Commons’ 132 PC and Mac workstations, 41 laptops for check-ou t for use throughout the building, and 8 printers help make technology easily accessible and user-centric by providing consistent technology throughout the building. Instead of having to go one place for ereserve readings, another to search the web, and another to use Word and Powerpoint, a student can do all these on every computer.
- New Archives Reading Room provides an attractive and comfortable place for research as well as display space for historical materials. S pecial environmental conditions for storing mate rials in the Archives vault.
- A self check-out station opposite the Circulation/Reserves Desk allows users to check out their own materials.
- Sustainable/green elements : energy efficient windows; sophisticated climate control including heat recovery system; multiple lighting zones for flexible programming; attractive, quiet and sustainable cork flooring.
June 2007
Now that our new space is available, thousands of books and periodicals are returning from offsite storage. As we integrate these back into our collections, materials may not appear where you expect and locations in the online catalog may not be accurate. Please let a staff member know if you need help locating anything you need.
May 2007: Sneak Peek
While the Library will be fully completed over the summer, you can come see a preview of the final layout beginning Monday, May 7.
The partitions between Phase One and Phase Two will be removed this weekend and library staff are eager to show off the fabulous new space - more than twice the size of the current facilities!
While we will still be relocating collections and installing shelving and furniture, opening the Lefavour portion of the Library will make additional study spaces available for the upcoming final exam period.
Furniture and technology installations will continue over the summer, and we will celebrate the official opening of the completed new Beatley Library in Fall 07.
Diversions, New Books, Reading space
Circulation, Reserves, Interlibrary Loan Desk
Self Check Out Station
Current Periodicals
Library and Information Science Collections
Compact Shelving
College Archives
Third Floor Reading space and Stacks
Group and Meeting Rooms
October 1, 2006 Project Update: New Library Tour
You can now take a virtual tour of the new library space, including audio and images. A sample of the new space include:
September 1, 2006 Project Update
New Library – Halfway There!
The Simmons College Library moved into Phase I of its new home in May, and members of the community – students, faculty, staff, alumnae/i, and friends – have all been thoroughly enjoying it ever since. The Library occupies the two floors just above the building entry on the ground floor. Everyone appreciates the new Library’s convenience and functionality. Having the Reference, Circulation/Reserves and Technology service desks located in close proximity to each other in the Information Commons makes helping patrons much more efficient.
Once inside the Library, visitors can choose from a wide variety of seating options and work spaces. There are 240 places to sit (including 91 computer workstations at spacious cherry wood carrels), 21 laptop computers, and a building-wide wireless network. And that’s just Phase I of the library renovation and expansion project! Seats will more than double in Phase II.
Additional volumes have been placed in off-site storage during Phase I. The request feature of the online catalog continues to allow prompt retrieval—usually within 48 hours. At the same time, however, our collection of electronic books has grown to more than 35,000 titles. These, along with more than 26,000 electronic journals, are available 24/7.
There are two temporary limitations of the Phase I space. First, internal Library access to the main circulating and periodical collections on Level 2 is only via a stairwell. Anyone who needs elevator access must check out an access card at the Circulation Desk to allow them to open the locked door to the Level 2 Collections accessible from the building elevator. Likewise, Phase I does not include a full complement of bathrooms—just two per floor on Levels 1 and 2. Additional bathrooms are available on the Ground Floor, where classrooms are located. Phase II will include both an internal elevator and additional bathrooms.
Group Rooms for Students
There are three group study rooms in Phase I, with 11 more to come in Phase II. The group study rooms will accommodate as many as six people, are wired with power and data ports, and include whiteboards and projection equipment. They can be reserved by students through the Circulation Desk.
Phase II
Work is well underway on Phase II, which is due for completion next June. This phase involves the complete remodeling of the Lefavour Hall interior so that it flows seamlessly into the new building; the two structures already share a striking brick and glass exterior. Phase II will provide more computer work stations, a multimedia/language lab, additional meeting rooms, an instructional computing classroom, and a new home for the College Archives.
Where Are They Now?
Public Services Librarians, Subject Librarians, and MassBLAST staff offices are now located in their permanent location on the Fenway side of the new Library, Level 1. Other staff are in temporary offices during Phase I. Library Director Daphne Harrington’s temporary office is at the top of the stairs on Level 2, as are temporary offices for Interlibrary Loan, Systems, and Periodicals staff. Offices for the Associate Director for Technical Services, Acquisitions, Cataloging, and Collections staff are located in Room E104 in the Main College Building. The Archives are located in E103 in the Main College Building. The staff, however, is already taking advantage of new exhibition space in the Library Lobby. Take a look at the current exhibit: Simmons College : A Legacy of Leadership .
Tours of the Library
The Library has developed a variety of ways for you to tour the new space. You can do a self-guided audio tour using your mobile phone, or check out an audio player (iPod or CD) at the Circulation/Reserves Desk. Pick up a pamphlet at the Circulation/Reserves Desk that provides the phone number to call and lists the tour site locations. You can also pre-load the mp3 files on your own player at home and bring it into the Library to hear the tour. Or pick up a printed tour script and use it as your guide. All MCC students will complete the self-guided tour as part of their fall Library instruction. We are eager to receive your feedback on this new service, which can be given to us on your mobile phone at the end of the tour, or on a printed form available at the Circulation/Reserves Desk.
Library staff will offer guided tours every weekday September 6 th – 15 th at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm, starting in the Library lobby. A virtual tour providing audio files and photos of the new space is also available on the Library website.
March 1, 2006 Project Update
Phase One of the new Library Building project is almost complete. Construction is finished, and technology, furniture and shelving will be installed over the next several weeks. The first building occupants, Communications and Advancement, will move in during March. The Library will wait to move until after all spring semester classes are over, so that we can maintain consistent services during a busy time in the academic year. The entire new building, including all classrooms and meeting spaces, will be open and fully operational for summer 2006.
The next phase of the renovation project includes vacating and gut renovating the existing 5 story Lefavour Hall building. This work will occur from June 2006 - June 2007. By summer 2007 the entire project - and new Library - will be completed!
During this second phase of the project, the Library will provide services in reduced space in the new building. Currently we have about 74,000 books offsite. It is necessary to move an additional 50,000 books to temporary offsite storage, leaving 85,000 of the most current and heavily used books physically here on campus. An additional 25% of the print periodical collection will also be moved offsite for Interim II. We will continue to provide recall and delivery services for all materials housed offsite through the 'request' option in the online library catalog. The recall system currently in place has been very effective over the past year, and we are confident we can continue to meet demands for accessing any materials that are temporarily in storage in a timely fashion. Due to the limited space in this second phase of construction, the Library will also have to house some staff in temporary quarters in the MCB. All staff remain committed to providing the highest level of service possible.
Specific Library Move Timeline for Spring '06:
- March 2 - 10: during Spring Break, selected books & periodicals moved offsite
- Late March/early April: Archives & Library Technical Services staff move into temporary space in the East Wing that will be vacated by Advancement staff
- May 9 - 16: Remaining book and periodical collections moved offsite or into the new building; Library staff moves into the new building
- May 17: Library and the Information Commons will be closed; Lefavour building closed to the community
- May 18: Library services (Interim II) and limited computer access open in the new building
- May 30: Full Information Common technology services open in the new building
Please let me know if you have any questions, daphne.harrington@simmons.edu We thank you for your continued support and patience. The new library will be here before we know it!
February 3, 2006 Project Update
Exterior Work Almost Complete
The exterior of the new library and renovated Lefavour buildings is almost complete - the building looks great! The glass tower entryway that bridges and unites the two buildings looks especially magnificent when lit up at night. Most interior woodwork had been completed, and furniture has started arriving. The Communications Department will move into the new space over Spring Break in March, and the Advancement staff will move at the end March. The Library, Information Commons and classrooms will move at the end of the semester in May, in the downtime before the summer semester begins.
September 2, 2005 Project Update
Recent Progress
It is impossible to miss the visible progress that has been made on the library
project over the summer. As you know if you have seen the view from The Fenway,
the Simmons presence on that corner it is now striking. The facade of the
new building –granite, limestone and brick - have all been installed.
Windows and metal panel accents are also almost fully in place. Similar work
continues on the facade of the Lefavour building and on the glass tower entryway
that bridges and unites the two buildings. The exterior work should be done
by mid-November.
The interior of the new building portion of the project is also well on its way to completion – interior walls are up, and painting and other finishes are now being installed, beginning with the top floor and working down. The building floors will be numbered ground, one, two, three and four, to match the room numbering protocol of the Main College Building. Clear and attractive signage is being incorporated into the building as part of a larger campus-wide Wayfinding project.
Timeline
While the building may look completed in January ‘06, interior work such
as technology and furnishings will continue to be underway throughout January
and February. In March Advancement and the Communications Department will move
into their new homes on the 4th and 3rd floors, and new classrooms and meeting
spaces will be available on the ground floor. The Library and photo lab will
move out of Lefavour and into the new library building after the semester ends
at the end of May, in order to minimize disruption for patrons and research.
Starting in Summer ‘06, the interior of Lefavour will be gutted and completely renovated. When done part of the Library, Advancement, and Technology, and the Modern Languages Department, will move into the refinished space. The entire project – and the complete new Library - will be finished Summer ‘07.
Library and Technology Services
The Library and the Information Commons will continue to operate this academic
year in the Lefavour building. When they move to the Interim II Library in
the new building in May 06, the community will be notified in detail about
changes in services and access to collections.
Tours
The best way to see the progress is to take a look for yourself! Staff from
Facilities will be offering hard hat tours for the community. Sign up in
advance for a tour by contacting Rose at x2278 or rosemary.hernandez@simmons.edu Group
tours can also be arranged (groups must be smaller than 20).
September 1, 2005 Facade Work
September 1, 2005 Sample fabrics and finishes:
Dec 12, 2004 Sample Furniture
Come visit the first floor of the Library to see sample furniture that may be used in our new library! Take a seat in the desk or lounge chairs; try the private study carrel, spread out at the table.
We are looking for your feedback about what works best for our patrons.
Please send reactions and/or suggestions to library@simmons.edu or use the online form or use the paper forms located by the samples in the Library
October 29, 2004: New quiet study space on the 4th floor of the Library
In order to accomodate the need for increased quiet study space, we have created a quiet study area on the 4th floor of the library. It is located between the break in the HD call number bookstacks on the parking lot side of the building. This area is for concentrated quiet study only: no conversation, cell phones or food allowed. Group study areas also available on the 4th floor, as well as the 1st and 2nd floors of the library. Other quiet study areas are on the 2nd floor.
October 14, 2004: Interior Renderings
October 14, 2004: Floor Plans
While it is hard to see all the details, take a look at the floor plans for the first three floors of the new library building to get an idea of how the new library be laid out.
September 8, 2004: New Exterior Renderings:
Stop by the Circulation and Reserves Desk to pick
up a free pair of ear plugs to help keep things quiet
while studying.
The Library Renovation Team is eager to hear your ideas, concerns
and comments throughout the planning process, and as construction
progresses. For questions/comments about the project, contact Daphne
Harrington (2754), Library Director.
For questions/comments about the site, contact the Megan
Fox (2742).
Page updated: August 28, 2007
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