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Loutit Library move begins

Published: Monday, February 11, 2008, 11:27 PM     Updated: Tuesday, February 12, 2008, 9:48 AM
Charles Spears, left, and Keith Tett move a storage crate into the Loutit District Library, 407 Columbus, on Monday in preparation for the library building's upcoming renovation and expansion. The library is scheduled to reopen Feb. 25 at the former Save-A-Lot space, 1051 S. Beacon, Grand Haven, its temporary home until the renovations of the downtown library are complete. (Click to enlarge photos)
Allison Boyer packs up library material at the Loutit District Library Monday. Boyer works at Loutit as a youth services librarian. Construction on the library building is scheduled to begin in April, with the library reopening downtown in the summer of 2009.

Loutit District Library Director Sandie Knes is used to books flying off the shelves — but not like this.

Sandie Knes

A professional moving company started boxing most of the library's 110,000 circulation items Monday. The books, CDs and other items will be moved to the library's temporary home in a former Save-A-Lot, 1051 S. Beacon.

The library closed Monday to make way for an $11.5 million renovation and expansion to the downtown campus. A nearly decadelong campaign to expand the library's services has paid off, officials said.

The proof is in the three large moving trucks outside library's long-time home, 407 Columbus.

"The library as we know it is changing forever," Knes said.

Library supporters say that's a good thing. The new downtown library, which opens in the summer of 2009, will be bigger and better, officials said.

But first things first.

Staff offices were the first to be moved so employees can prepare for handling pick-ups and drop-offs at the temporary library as early as Tuesday.

The tentative full-scale opening is Feb. 25.

That gives the movers — and staff — just two weeks to get the temporary home in shape to handle the demands of a community library.

Most of the library's furniture and computers are moving to the temporary headquarters, officials said. Library officials have used stickers to help Corrigan Moving Systems of Grand Rapids know what goes where.

Employees pack up library materials at the Loutit District Library Monday. The library is scheduled to reopen Feb. 25 at the former Save-A-Lot space, 1051 S. Beacon, while renovations at the downtown library are complete The library construction includes adding more space for computers, study rooms, and a better floor plan layout.

The company has a system for packing and unpacking library circulation items so they can be found by staffers and patrons. Books are displayed in a specific order and the slightest goof could leave patrons scratching their heads.

Knes said she is confident the move will go well.

"They have done this 50 to 60 times and they really know what they are doing," Knes said. "They have instilled in us that, 'Hey, this is going to be a piece of cake.'"

With all that's going on, Knes said the mood is positive and upbeat among staff members.

"It's calmer than I anticipated," she said. "We're excited and confident that this will go well."

Jeanette Weiden, who oversees the local history and genealogy department, said she's not concerned about the move.

Mary Mihovich, left, hands Susan Robertson library material from the information desk while packing up items at the Loutit District Library.

She said pictures and other delicate artifacts will be taken care of in the move.

"(Corrigan crews) understand the significance of our collection," she said. "They're going to handle it safely."

Mark Rennells, who heads the computer systems department, agreed.

"It's going a lot quicker and smoother than I had hoped," he said.

Rennells said he's most excited about moving back to the downtown campus where there will be a computer lab and a separate computer room for classes. The lab will have 24 computers, while 12 stations will be in the classroom.

In the old library, classes would take away from open computer lab hours.

When the library reopens Feb. 25, the local history and genealogy department will have its own space, public computers will be available, and patrons will have access to their favorite books, CDs, DVD and other circulation items.

Telephone numbers will remain the same, Knes said.

Other things, like the library's layout, will change.

"It's going to be a big learning curve when we're open," Knes said. "Things are going to be in different locations than they've been over the past 40 years. It's going to be a challenge."

Signs will help patrons find their way to the various book genre sections in the new space, Knes said.

Westwind Construction renovated the former Save-A-Lot store for the library.
Jennifer Smith of Robinson Township said her family uses the library computer lab several times a week.

Michelle Plews packs up library material at the Loutit District Library.

She said her daughter is glad the computer lab will be available at the temporary library. And she doesn't mind going to the Beacon Boulevard location.

"I just go with the flow," she said.

Officials said a temporary move is important because it will keep patrons and employees clear from noise, dust and other hassles of operating in a construction zone.

The library board has budgeted $400,000 for the move and transitional operations at 1051 S. Beacon.

The library board will pay $9,958 a month for rent, utilities and insurance.

The current library has roughly 26,000 square feet; the Beacon Boulevard site has 16,201; once completed, the main library will have 48,384.

Construction on the main library is expected to begin in April; the library will reopen in the summer of 2009.

Last May, voters overwhelmingly approved a 20-year, $3.4 million bond toward an $11.5 million renovation and expansion to the north toward Fulton Street.

The new library will offer more public computers, private reading areas, study rooms, program rooms, a fireplace, and better floor plan layout, officials have said.

"It's been a long time coming," Knes said. "We've got a good design, we did it at a reasonable price and it's been great to have the community's support in this."

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