Redesign Will Correct Sidewalk Puddles] Continued from Page 1 Investigating the cause and solution of the sidewalk drainage problem uncovered a web of responsibilities. The “Library of the Future” construction process is complicated. This is typical of major con struction projects, according to David Hooper, a professional engineer unattached to the library project. “Site designs would indicate changes in grading,” Hooper said. Contractors would bear the responsibility for meeting the specifications on the design. However, if no grading changes were included in the architect’s design, contractors would not change the site’s grade, Hooper admits. According to a copy of the contract on file with the Pa. Department of General Services, architects Shepley Bulfinch Richardson Abbot of Boston and Hayes Large of Altoona, Pa., are responsible for design. The contract names Benchmark Construction Company as the General Contractor, but PSH’s Dankanich admits there are five major con tractors on site. According to Dankanich, a team of inspectors, who report to DGS Construction Inspection Supervisor Bob Hughes, is responsible for identifying prob- The interior of the new library is still taking shape. It is to be completed by Oct. 22. Job conference meetings occur periodically, according to Dankanich. Once problems are identified, architects from Hayes Large design a solution. Then, contractors and subcontractors implement the design. The ultimate responsibility for overseeing the $17.33 million construction project rests with DGS, according to Dankanich. Construction should be com plete by Oct. 22 and will be fol lowed by a two-to-three week review of all aspects of the new building. DGS staff will follow what Hevner described as a punch-list to check the function of each switch and doorknob. “When the state is satisfied, then Penn State gets the keys,” ■ Hevner said. The puddles did offer return ing students the first chuckle of the semester. Landscaping of the site appearfed to be complete, but left puddles as visible obstacles to the multi-million dollar library. The puddle issue was over heard in multiple campus con versations that also included out rage over the prices of textbooks and the parking fee. Cartoonist Alice Potteiger Wilkes captured the sentiment in The Capital Times with a draw ing of the newly christened “Library Ferry” offering passage across the flood. Select Group Previews New Library By Cathie McCormick Musser Capital Times Staff Writer A carefully selected group of Penn State Harrisburg faculty, staff and students joined Library Director Dr. Harold Shill for a sneak preview of the “Library of the Future” on the afternoon of Sept. 27. After a safety briefing by Ed Dankanich, PSH’s Physical Plant Director, the guests wan dered through three dusty floors of potential - carefully stepping over and around wires, boxes and holes. Shill painted a detailed picture of the new library for the group. Tour members were im pressed. According to Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Thomas Bowers, the library “looks real promising.” Invitees included members of two faculty committees: the Library Committee and the Information Systems and Technology Committee. Also invited was Student Government' Association President Roderick Lee and a Capital Times reporter and photographer. The two committees have an obvious stake in the library. According to Dr. Thang Bui, Information Systems and Technology Committee Chairman, his committee made recommendations during the library planning process on the ideal number of data drops the library should contain and the ideal computer-desk design. When complete, 92 percent of the seats in the library will have data ports. In contrast, Library Committee Chairman Bowers admitted his team’s input during the planning process was limit ed. According to Bowers, the Library Committee advised the library administration on the needs and interests of the facul ty. While not heavily involved in planning, Bowers admitted the faculty is excited about the library. The new facility “will help both faculty and graduate stu dents with their research,” Bowers said. The Library Committee did make recom mendations while on the tour. For instance, Library Committee member Karen Brown suggested keeping at least one copier in the Olmsted building for students after the Library Director Dr. Harold Shill (left) conducts a tour of the new library. new library opens Brown commented that it would be inconvenient, especial ly during bad weather, for stu dents to travel from Olmsted classrooms to the library for copies. The suggestion drew immediate nods from the rest of the committep. Dr. Shill jotted the idea bn his legal tablet. While SGA President Roderick Lee appreciated the tour, his initial response was to request inclusion of more stu dents. Lee has arranged for SGA members to tour the new library in late October. Shill orchestrated the pre completion tour for two main reasons. He wanted to gather comments while changes are still possible and he nQW lfo rar y j s wanted the tour J members to 115,000 square feet “get a sense of compared to the how the build- __ ___ r . , in g works.” 37,205 feet of During the Heindel Library. excitedly poked his fingers into data port wall sockets to explain the preparation for fiber optic cable and traced removable floor tiles in the technology-enhanced classroom. The most important concepts in the design of the library were “flexibility and functionality,” Shill said. According to Shill, the “Library of the Future” was designed as a hybrid print and electronic resource. There are 638 data ports in the plan. This is a dramatic increase from the 39 data ports available in Heindel Library. However, the new library will house only 180 computers. The planners are assuming that future visitors will carry laptop com puters into the library. According to Shill, once con nected to the library network, visitors will enjoy access to the library’s databases, the State Data Center and the Internet. When research calls for print materials, however, the library’s complete set of books, periodi cals and special collections will be readily available. In an interview before the library tour, Shill described his vision of the typical 2004 library visitor. After enjoying a cup of cappuccino in the CyberCafe, this hypothetical visitor will plug a laptop computer into one of the 638 data ports. Using both print and electron ic resources, the visitor will be able to compose documents and print them on the library printer. The list of dif- ferences between the current and new library is extensive. Most obvious to tour members was the difference in size. library is 115,000 square feet compared to the 37,205 feet of Heindel Library. There will be 14 group study rooms compared to the three cur rently available. Graduate stu dents and faculty will be able to reserve one of 36 graduate study carrels. There are no graduate study carrels in Heindel Library. Other than the planned SGA tour, there are no additional pre views scheduled, according to Shill. Once the building is com plete and the furniture is in place, the chore of moving the library’s collection begins. The move will take 11 or 12 days and is scheduled for the holiday break. If everything goes according to schedule, the “Library of the Future” will be open to the Central Pennsylvania communi ty on Jan. 4.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers