Library News: New Library 
An update on our plans from University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider, Associate University Librarian for Administration and Policy Development Jeanne M. Hammer and the VCU Libraries Office of Communications and Public Relations.
Last week, the VCU Libraries community tangibly heard and felt our near future: The rat-a-tat-tat of jackhammers at dawn. A crew was exploring how the concrete aggregate panels are attached to Cabell Library in order to finalize construction specs for the new library on the Monroe Park Campus.
Experiencing the exploratory demolition, the reality of a new library came into clearer focus. We are on schedule to break concrete - literally - in March, 2014 with construction ramping up during the summer. The new building will be complete for fall semester 2015.
And, in answer to the most common question we hear: Cabell Library will remain open, offering full, around-the-clock services to VCU students and faculty during the construction. And, we'll also make earplugs available.
Updates and details
- Virgina's Department of Planning and Budget and Bureau of Capital Outlay Management have approved a budget of $50,800,000. Following that approval, the Virginia College Building Authority last week successfully concluded a bond issue that provides the actual funds. That means the money for the building is now available, and will be transferred to VCU very shortly.
- The Boston/Richmond team of Shepley Bulfinch/Moseley/KSA/AEI are our designers, architects and engineers. W.M. Jordan will provide construction management.
- 90 percent of the new space is for users, not staff or materials.
- See all the details and drawings of the design.
Design decisions and highlights
Concepts for configuring the new and old buildings were carefully considered. Our choice maximizes every nook in the old building and offers exciting new spaces in the new.
The new building entranceway faces Shafer Court and opens onto The Compass--the psychic center of Monroe Park campus. The trees and green space on the Cathedral side of the library will be preserved. More details:
- A dedicated space for faculty and graduate students will enjoy an inspirational view, looking east from the fourth floor.
- Media creation space on the lowest level will provide access to state of the art and experimental audio and video content, visual and graphic design and production tools, 3D printers, and other advanced media resources to support academic projects, including high-end computers for video manipulation and data visualization, along with advanced immersive technology spaces.
- An expanded Starbucks will remain integrated with the library.
- A large, flexible, media-rich presentation and event space will provide a stage for many academic programs and VCU events.
- Artwork, exhibits and event space will showcase VCU's arts programs.
- Instructional spaces will incorporate robust technology and flexible furnishings.
- Expanded space for Cabell's Special Collections and Archives will allow easier access and more use of these rare materials.
- Glass facades will reveal interior activity, creating a welcoming beacon that draws the VCU community into the library.
- Street levels will provide pedestrian-scaled facades that welcome the campus into the building and engage with adjacent outdoor space.
- Pedestrian flow into and around the new building will be flexible, open, and free-flowing. The design minimizes obstacles to pedestrian traffic from the new classroom building north to Shafer Court, and from The Compass west, north, and south. The east pedestrian traffic approach should not be affected.
- The building design is targeting LEED Silver certification at a minimum.
New this fall semester are streamlined services at James Branch Cabell Library.
All checkout of books and equpiment loans and initial requests for research assistance are now handled from The Desk in the lobby. Previously, 
patrons went to the third floor for media checkout, the reference ("Ask Us") desk on the first floor for research assistance, and the desk ("Circulation") near the entrance to checkout.
VCU Libraries has been preparing for this transition during the past year. "This change mirrors national trends at institutions on the scale of VCU Libraries, and it's happening for many reasons," said Associate University Librarian for Research and Learning Dennis Clark. "As our collections and services have gradually moved online, from electronic databases to streaming media to questions asked via chat and text, fewer patrons have been asking their questions in person. Those who do frequently require help from staff and librarians in multiple departments, and providing that help in one place is more efficient for both patrons and for the library."
Students and faculty who need in-depth help with research will be referred to a librarian and subject specialists will continue to be available for one-on-one consultations, meetings, presentations, tailored instruction and assistance by email and phone.
Media services have also been improved and streamlined. Media may be requested via the search box and will be held for pick-up at The Desk. The new department, Innovative Media, located on the third floor, provides support for media users and producers across a range of formats. The recently appointed head of Innovative Media, Eric Johnson, welcomes meetings with faculty.
"Usually we encounter people coming into the building who want many different things at the same time. This model will let us provide that help with one stop," said Clark.
"This new set-up should make it easier for Cabell's patrons--most of whom are undergraduates--to find the right place to go for help and the right person to help them."
New at Cabell Library, all checkouts of media are managed by the single service desk. Previously, checkouts were on the third floor. Now, patrons have two easy paths.
- To borrow DVDs, VHS tapes, 16mm films and other materials, request them at the front desk. Library staff will pull the materials for immediate checkout. During busy times, there might be a slight wait.
- Members of the university community can also place holds or requests for retrieval for media materials through the search box. The materials will be pulled and held for pick up at the service desk.
Most media are not on open, self-serve shelves. Albums, scores and other musical materials remain available on open shelves on the third floor. Browse and bring selections to the first floor. If Innovative Media (third floor) is closed, bring requests to the first floor desk.
Eric D.M. Johnson has joined VCU Libraries as Head of Innovative Media, a key initiative of the libraries.
Johnson will take an immediate role shaping a state-of-the-art innovative media studio for the new library building on the Monroe Park Campus, which is scheduled to open in 2015. In addition, he will establish strategic relationships with faculty and staff at VCU to design services and educational programs to support students' curricular requirements in creating, disseminating and using all forms of media.
"Working collaboratively with faculty colleagues in the VCU Libraries and throughout the university, Mr. Johnson will ensure that VCU's library system is at the center of new and evolving uses of media for course-related and research needs," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider.
Said Johnson: "I'm excited to have the opportunity to help build a community of diverse producers and users of media from across campus, welcoming them to a new space in the library in which they can explore creative ways to tell the stories--through sound, image, animation and more--that they want to tell."
Thanks to our Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory Committee for hosting the annual Cabell Life Forum April 3. We had a room full of students who posed many ideas and raised many interesting questions about today's library services and the proposed new building. Coverage from The Commonwealth Times
Member, Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory Committee
VCU is on a fast track to build a new library adjacent to James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park campus. The project will create a striking new facility on Shafer Court that will connect with the existing Cabell Library, while also renovating parts of Cabell in order to integrate old and new.
VCU Libraries embarked on the process of designing a new library building in April with the University's issuance of a Request for Proposal for an architect/engineering firm. The RFP was awarded to the team of Shepley Bullfinch and Moseley Architects, and work began in earnest with the first meeting of the architects and the University personnel on August 16. Four all-day meetings have been held with the building team, composed of representatives from the VCU Libraries, VCU Facilities Planning, and Shepley Bullfinch/Moseley. These early meetings have made rapid progress towards final design, thanks in part to space planning study completed in 2011 that identified space and services most needed in a new building.
The Process and the Timetable
The process so far has been organized around two main objectives.
- First, the meetings worked to create a "program" for the new building: how much space to create and how to use that space. The 2011 space study provided a foundation for this work, so the team needed only to refine and confirm the overall space projections in the original study.
- The second objective consisted largely of deciding how and where to create the new space, a process known technically as "blocking and massing." The team has worked through different schemes for where space will be created and where space will be renovated, and how those spaces will be distributed within the new and existing building.
Inside the New Library
- Most of the new building will be dedicated to space for students and faculty. Staff and collections space will be minimal.
- There will be a significant increase in the quantity and variety of study seats to accommodate collaborative and individual work in active and quiet settings. This will include signature reading rooms and reconfigurable labs and group work areas.
- Enhanced, dedicated research space will accommodate faculty and graduate students.
- Media creation space will provide access to current and experimental audio and video content, visual and graphic design and production tools, and other advanced media resources to support academic projects, including high-end computers for video manipulation.
- A significantly expanded Starbucks café will provide more space for study breaks.
- A large, flexible, media-rich presentation and event space for gatherings of the VCU academic community may also include outdoor space.
- Incorporation of artwork, exhibit and event space will showcase VCU's arts programs.
- Teaching spaces that incorporate robust technology and flexible furnishings will support a variety of teaching and learning activities.
- Special Collections and Archives department will have more capacity for collection growth.
- The interior will blend memorable destinations within the library and flexible, efficient spaces that will meet needs for many years to come.
- The balance of collections and readers will evolve over time. As the efficiency of library collection storage is increased through the installation of compact shelving, more space can be freed up for student seating.
From the Street
- The new building will be in the location of the existing loading dock on Shafer Court.
- Green space east of the library will be preserved.
- Glass facades will reveal interior activity, creating a welcoming beacon that draws the VCU community into the library.
- The street levels of the library will provide pedestrian-scaled facades that welcome the campus into the building and engage with adjacent outdoor space.
- Pedestrian flow will be a primary consideration: The building design will minimize obstacles to foot traffic from the new classroom building north to the Compass area, and from the Compass area west and south. The east walking path from Monroe Park should not be affected.
- Options are being explored for additional expansion space along the east side of Cabell, as well as improvements to all facades. The various approaches will be evaluated in context of the budget and all project priorities.
- The building design is targeting LEED Silver certification at a minimum.
- A screened service area for deliveries and trash/recycling pick up will be accessed from Linden Street.
- The amount of space for parking will be significantly smaller than today, lessening impact on the adjacent campus environments.
- The university will explore whether it's possible to close Linden Street, possibly before the new library building opens in 2015.
The VCU Board of Visitors has approved the $3.2 million contract for design work on the $47.3 million Library and Academic Commons project.
Moseley Architects with Shepley Bulfinch was selected as the architect/engineer for the project, a combination of new construction and improvements to the James Branch Cabell Library. Background and timeline
