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University Daliv Kansan. June 8. 1981
Watson renovation completion one step closer
By LINDA LANG Staff Reporter
The recently remodeled public service area of Watson Library has met with patron approval since its opening May 18, library employees said.
Reference, circulation and interlibrary services departments and the reserve reading room are now all on the main floor. A completely new feature, an automated check-out system that eliminates the need for a security guard to check students' bags as they leave, was also added.
"People are awed by it," Kendall Simmons, stack supervisor, said. "They love it. They feel it was worth the inconvenience."
Marilyn Clark, head of the reference department, said people were "relived and surprised at how good it looks after all that mess."
She said that students need to be aware that the numbering system for the stacks now matched the numbering system for the library floors. There are now 140 stacks and the assessment is now the first floor with the main entrance on the third floor.
The second phase of the Watson renovation is nearly completed. Construction workers have begun the third phase, which consists of demolishing and reconstructing the fourth floor, where the microforms, photocopying services and the periodicals reading room will be located.
The second phase was scheduled to be completed by the middle of March, but the public service-area did not open until the middle of May. Bricklayer and delayed construction, according to John Glinka, associate dean of libraries.
Until mid-May, patrons and library staff had to use the west entrance of the library while the front entrance and the main floor were under construction. Noise from jackhammers and dust from the ongoing construction were such common nuisances that library employees ordered "Veteran of the Watson Library Renovation, 1980-1982" t-shirts.
Another nuisance was the shifting of books within the stacks as different areas were reconstructed. Glinda said that she would most of the temporary shelving was over.
One potential nuisance for students is the new book check-out and detection system. Glinka said its purpose was not
to catch students stealing books, but to keep track of library books so they would be available to patrons who needed them.
Cliff Haska, circulation librarian, said he thought that once students walked through the new detection gates a few times without setting the alarm off they would have more confidence in the new system.
The check-out system gates on work on the principle of magnetism. A magnetized strip in each book is demagnetized when the book is checked out so that it will not set off a false alarm.
Before the new system was put in, students' purses and backpacks were checked by a library employee as people left the building.
Haka said there was no way of knowing how many books had been stolen in the past. Library employees are currently doing a book inventory, but Haka said there was no sure way of telling whether books not on the shelves at this time were lost, stolen or discarded.
"We just have to assume the problem was pretty bad," he said.
Haka agreed with Glinka that the new check-out system would improve the accuracy of library records and added that he thought some patrons who took books out of the library without checking them out had done so to avoid fines, rather than having the idea of stealing the books.
"We get a lot of books back that were never checked out," he said.
Haka said he liked the idea of the new check-out system because after the initial price, about $100,000, it was cost-free.
Although most other aspects of the Watson renovation are going well, librarians have expressed concern about a potential noise problem. Clark said that because of the new carpeting, noise was not as much of a problem as it would be in another design consideration, however she, said since the walls of the reference offices are up partitions that do not go all the way to the ceiling.
Haka said noise might be a problem but could worked out by rearranging the work area in the circulation department.
"We're concerned about the walls, that the noise will go over the partition and disturb the patrons." Haka said.
He said the decision was made to install partitions in the library instead
of walls to provide greater flexibility in space usage in the future.
"It might be 25 years before we know whether these were good decisions." Haka said.
Glinda also emphasized the ease of modifying the library space. He said it would be enough that when the west library comes in, we're not going to be caught in a crush.
"We simply pull up the partitions and relocate," he said.
before this Wilson renovation began, the $65 million library on the west side aided the Military Science building was explored, but it was decided at the time to make better use of the space in Watson. The renovation was projected to cost about $30 million.
As he emphasized the practicality of the renovation, Glinka pointed at the vinyl walls and carpeted floors in his apartment and said they were easy to keep clean.
Library employees said that student complaints, although minor, focused on the abundance of such materials as plastic and stainless steel. Some patrons said the materials were unattractive and sterile-looking, despite their flexibility and practicality.
He said he hoped students would say, "This is great. I can find my way around."
When completely renovated, the library will be more accessible and comfortable, according to Glinka.
Access to every part of the stacks will be easy, unlike the old stacks area where the east side of the first two stacks are accessed from the west side because of a work area inbetween.
There will be easy-to-find restrooms on every floor, with facilities for the handicapped.
With the move of the public service area to the main floor, the second phase of the renovation is almost completed. Glinka said a few details needed to be finished, including the installation of a guard rail for the handicapped ramp.
The first and second floors were demolished and reconstructed and electrical and plumbing work was done during phase one of the renovation.
When the fourth and final phase is completed, the cataloguing and acquisitions departments will move to the fourth floor, along with the Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American department. The East Asian and Slavic departments will also be located on the new fourth floor.
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CLASS
Beginning Adult Ballet I
"
Beginning Adult Ballet II* "
Semi-Intermediate Ballet "
Intermediate Ballet
Advanced Ballet
Intermediate/Advanced Ballet
Men's Ballet
Adult Modern Dance
Beginner Adult Jazz*
Intermediate Adult Jazz
Women's Exercise
Noon-Hour Exercise/Alignment
TIME
Mon., 7-30: pm &
Tues., 7-8:30 pm &
Thurs., 7-8:30 pm &
Sat., 10-11:30 am
Tues., 5:30:7 pm &
Thurs., 7-8:30 pm &
Sat., 1-10:30 am-1 pm
Wed., 7:30:9 pm &
Fri., 5:30:7 pm
Tues. & Thurs., 5:30-7 pm
Mon. & Wed., 5:30-7:30 pm
Saturday, 1:2-30 pm
Thursday, 7-8:30 pm
Tues., 7-8:30 pm
Mon., 5:30-7 pm
Wed., 5:30-7 pm
Tues. & Thurs., 8-9 am
Mon. & Wed., 12-1 pm
- These classes are for students who have had one (or more) semester(s) of dance.
A librarian sits at the newly completed reference desk in Watson Library. The desk is located just to the left of the library's front entrance and is part of Watson's renovation project.
Gardeners compete for the gold at weekend fruit and vegetable show
By LISA PROCTOR Staff Reporter
A vegetarian's paradise appeared at the corner of Tenth and Vermont streets in the cool spring morning.
Saturday dozens of Lawrencestare area residents showed the best specimens their gardens could grow at the annual Spring Garden Show sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association of Lawrence and the Douglas County Extension Council.
The show started at 8 a.m. and all ages rolled out of bed early to participate.
The show is open to all area residents, said Earl VanMeter, Douglas County extension service director.
"The judging is a hybridization of 4-H judging, which is blue, red and
white ribbons and open class judging, which is first, second and third places, Van Meter said. "We are awarding blue, red and white decipitation ribbons. Everyone will receive something for his or her efforts."
Nineteen categories of fruits and vegetables ranging from gooseberries to radishes were picked by a native horticultural Pam Felsid拾了果验。Pam Felsid拾了果验。
Participants prepared their entries the night before the show. Entries were judged on condition, quality, uniformity and size.
Entries were available for sale following the judging. A woman approached Jeffrey Stadler, captain, wanting to buy his entry.
Felts looked nervous at first when excited youngsters crowded around and peeked over her shoulder as she made her way down the tables, carefully examining all the entries. The ribbons placed on the entries added splashes of bright color to the scrubbed produce.
His only comment was, "What a pretty ribbon. Thank-you."
"How much do you want for your cabbage young man?" she asked.
Edwin Sample, 2214 Westchester,
was named Grand Champion for his
collective garden exhibit which
includes a herb garden, lettuce,
potatoes and radishes.
Sample gardens as a hobby and sells his produce at the Farmers Market every Saturday.
Jim Dywer, Route 3, was named Reserve Champion for his asparagus entry.
His decision was deferred to a higher authority. He asked "Mom, how much do I want for my cabbage?"
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