Open house provides look at new library facility

The SU Library will host an open house on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 3-5 p.m. to celebrate the completion of the new Syracuse University Library Facility, located adjacent to the Hawkins Building on Jamesville Avenue. The event will include guided tours of the vault and processing areas and demonstrations of equipment and technology tools.

The 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art storage facility will house less-used library materials close at hand in a climate-controlled environment that will significantly extend the life of those materials. The facility will enable the library to continue to build research collections that serve immediate and long-term scholarly needs by freeing up space in campus libraries for new acquisitions and new purposes.

The facility is designed to make the most efficient use of space, operating with a warehousing software system and compact shelving. Books are stored by size rather than by call number and shelves are arranged to accommodate the maximum number of books per shelf. It is estimated that the facility will hold more than 1 million volumes, allowing for expansion over the next several years.

For most materials, the Classic Catalog will indicate when an item is located at the facility and provide an online form for users to request delivery. The Library to Go service offers same-day or next-day delivery to faculty offices or campus libraries; articles will be delivered electronically. Those needing to consult a large volume of materials may arrange to use the on-site conference room.

For more information on this event, contact Julie Sharkey at 443-8782 or jsharkey@syr.edu.