Week of MARCH 26-30 - UPDATE

EXTERIOR WALLS- WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY Question? Why is there banging on exterior walls everywhere if windows will be installed only on the northeast corner? Answer… The removal of concrete to install windows requires that additional shotcrete concrete be applied to other areas of the exterior walls to maintain the lateral strength of our building. Windows do not equal concrete. So rebar (the steel pins that have been giving us all headaches), has to be pounded into the existing walls to reinforce the concrete that will be sprayed onto the wall surface. The thicker concrete walls at other points on the building’s exterior maintain the lateral (side to side) strength of the structure when more windows are added. Who knew? Not me… which is why I didn’t alert anyone that the pounding would be right outside of circulation, adult services, administration, etc…

Question? Why did the banging go on until 8:15 pm on Wednesday? Answer – we have a tough building. They don’t make them this way anymore. More effort and time was required by the subcontractor to get all the steel into our walls. This work needs to be complete and inspected before Friday when concrete trucks are expected to arrive and start pumping.

NOISE ABATEMENT Orange ear plugs are available outside of Keely’s cubicle. They look like cheezos in a glass jar. Help yourself. More are on order. Patrick Allen, project manager, has stated that work will stop by 3 pm or earlier to day, so there should be a respite until tomorrow. Remember, check with your supervisor to ask to shift to later work hours to avoid the worst of the racket.

MERIT BADGES TO CIRCULATION Although all areas are suffering, I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary endurance of our circulation staff. The pounding was on the exterior wall in the circ work area. Since this is where the returned items and checkouts occur, circ staff could not relocate and did not abandon our brave patrons. Hats off and ears plugged to a great team who toughed out a very hard day. Irma and her team of Wednesday workers will each a free rental coupon so that they can recover with the more pleasant noise of music, video or audio book. If you have a recommendation for additional merit awards for above and beyond service, please send me an email nomination.