Sunday, August 5, 2012

"And that's where we are" @ the Cedar Rapids Public Library


New library plans for an ever-changing digital world. (Cedar Rapids Gazette, 8/5/2012)

Excerpt: “I’d be highly surprised if the ‘e’ environment does nothing to us,” [Library Director Bob] Pasicznyuk said. “That would be odd. I think it’s just untenable that it’s not going to affect our business.”

Equally hard to imagine, he noted, is that the traditional paper book will vanish from the scene. “

It’s not just going from one to the other and, like, next year there are no (paper) books and we’re on ‘e,’” he said. “We’re in the middle of a transition and, in life, I’ve always found the transitional to be particularly challenging. “And that’s where we are.”

Some basic facts about the new Cedar Rapids Public Library.

Cost:  $46,000,000

Square footage:  94,000 (9,000 sq. ft. larger than flood-ravaged facility).

Collection size:  250,000 volumes.

Public access computers:  100

Meeting room space:
  • Auditorium
  • 175-seat meeting room
  • 15 other civic spaces
  • Children’s programming room

Related posts:
Construction time lapse. (8/3/2012)
Groundbreaking celebration.  (5/2/2012)
Construction update.  (12/1/2012)
Construction of new library starts December 5.  (10/14/2011)
Cedar Rapids PTA Council supports new library with penny drive. (9/19/2011)
Contracts sent out for bid.  (8/30/2011)
A "progressive and forward-looking design".  (1/11/2011)
FEMA sez it can't support site for new Cedar Rapids library. (9/16/2010)
New library construction will include old bricks.  (8/18/2010)
Library circulation plummets at temporary location.  (8/6/2010)
Library staff looking at the best design ideas. (5/6/2010)
For sale, old library, needs work.  (4/9/2010)
Site Selection Raises Ethics Concerns.  (2/9/2010)
Cedar Rapids Library Board to Recommend Site for New Library. (01/26/2010)
FEMA Reconsiders, Decides Library Provides an Essential Service. (12/24/2009)
Hide and Seek: Downtown Cedar Rapids Satellite Branch Library. (11/30/2009)
Early Days of Cedar Rapids Public Library. (11/20/2009)

No comments: