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Farewell to the Original Cross Campus Library and Machine City
On
May 25, 2006, over a hundred library staff, architects,
contractors,
and Yale colleagues gathered in the Cross Campus
Library
to bid farewell to the original Library and Machine City.
A
selection of photos taken by Rob Daigle, Jessica Slawski,
and
Lisa Thomas record this launch of the Phase2a Renovation.
A
cake captured final views of the two locations on the
eve of their renovation.
The
Cross Campus Library closed on May 23, 2006 and will
reopen in time for the beginning of the fall semester,
2007.
Decorations
carried the construction theme of this event to
thank the many people involved in planning the new spaces
and the multiple projects involving processing and moving
library materials (books, journals and catalog cards) to
prepare for the renovation.
Forty
pizzas were served at the Circulation desk - a dream of students
since the Cross Campus Library opened in 1970!
With
the backdrop of emptied shelves, staff gathered over
lunch.
Many
used the remaining old tables and chairs for a last time
- to eat pizza and cake - and share memories of the Cross
Campus Library.
A
few players gathered to make a few comments. (left to right):
Laura Cruickshank, (Director of Construction Renovations,
Yale University); Alice Prochaska, (University Librarian);
Danuta Nitecki, (Associate University Librarian and Phase
2A Library Director), Rich Vollaro, (Yale Facilities, Project
Manager), John Clegg, (Barr & Barr, Inc., General Contractor),
and Gary Ainge, (Hammond Beeby Rupert Ainge, Inc., Architects).
Laura
Cruickshank(right) began the program with informal
comments about the importance of this renovation within the
ambitious schedule of construction on campus. Laura was the
Project Manager for this project until she was promoted to
be Director of Construction.
Four
of the key "movers and shakers" behind this renovation
were recognized with thanks - (left to right): Rich Vollaro,
(Yale Facilities Project Manager); John Clegg, (Barr &
Barr, Inc., General Contractor); Gary Ainge (Hammond Beeby
Rupert Ainge, Inc., Architects); and Greg Bliss, (Barr &
Barr, Inc., General Contractor).
Staff
from many library departments were joined by representatives
from campus departments and outside vendors to reflect on
the Cross Campus Library and Machine City. For a list of those
contributing to this Phase 2a Renovation, please see the program
for this celebration.
Danuta
Nitecki distributed a specially designed commemorative calendar
to staff who participated in activities to prepare for this
renovation project. Here, Mary LaFogg accepted calendars for
Manuscripts and Archives staff who processed catalog cards
for transfer out of the Nave to enable work there.
Sue
Crockford-Peters (left), Head Access Services Department (and
former Head of Cross Campus Library) and several others from
the Department listen to the program acknowledgement of their
hard work to shift over three million items in the Sterling
Memorial Stack Tower to make room to house the Cross Collection
during construction.
Fred
Martz, retired Director of Library Systems and former Head
of Circulation Services, recalled the fun work involved over
thirty years ago when he and a few others moved the original
collection into the Cross Campus Library to open a new library.
Preparation
for the renovation involved many people, including (left to
right): Joseph Gordon (Deputy Dean, Yale College & Dean
of Undergraduate Education, Lecture English and member of
Planning Groups for the renovation)
Lisa Adriani, (Library Services Assistant), and Michael DiMassa
(Manager, Library Shelving Facilities) the department that
helped make space by transferring over 1.4 millions Sterling
Memorial Library volumes and 105,000 Cross Campus Library
volumes to Hamden.
Claire
Halloran (Library Service Assistant), Cross Campus
Library) concluded the formal comments with a thoughtful historic
reflection of life in Cross Campus Library since she
witnessed its opening in January, 1970. She captured
the sentiment of many by ending with "Good bye, old friend."
One
last task remained to kickoff the renovation. University Librarian
Alice Prochaska was fitted with a hard hat and sledgehammer and
asked to take the first swing at breaking down the existing
walls.
Barr
& Barr Contractors, John Clegg and Greg Bliss applauded
Alice's effort
to start the demolition they will undertake.
Evidence
of Alice's "demolition" attempts.
Rob
Daigle, Phase 2a Library Project Manager (right foreground)
already
is thinking about the next set of activities facing staff
in
the Interim Operations Group to arrange services for the fall.
Festivities continued as Maryetta Russell invites Claire
Halloran to
cut the cake.
The
guard station was empty as the Cross Campus Library
winds
down for its
renovation.
All
the Orbis computer installations and ITS e-mail kiosks have
been
removed.
...leaving
deserted areas where for many years students
studied together at tables and alone at carrels.
The
popular study spot adjacent to the ivy hill and emergency
exit was abandoned. It will be converted to become one of
the two new exterior
entrances to the Cross Campus Library after renovation is
completed.
Empty
shelving and tables were among the last remnants of
the original Cross
Campus Library staff saw before
construction began.
Offices
have been emptied and staff moved to temporary
quarter
in
Sterling Memorial Library.
For
the last time until fall 2007, 2 o'clock hands marked the
closing
of the
Cross Campus Library.
 .
...and
appropriately, John Vincenti, Manager of Library Facilities
and
Security, and Art Bromell, Facilities Operations, are the
last to leave the libray.
Above
the library, the Cross Campus awaits construction, to
begin
in early June after Alumni Reunion Weekends.
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