Interior Designers from In2Space

I just wanted to give you a "heads up" that we will have a couple of visitors on Monday. They are Cathy and Jennifer from In2Space, an Interior Design business in London. Rudi and I have had several meetings with them to discuss how they might be of assistance in our revitalization. We are in the process of hiring them to assist with designing the functional areas with special requirements. This will include the relocated spaces as well as the new spaces which means that they will be working closely with our architects. Appointments have been made with those who inhabit the spaces every 15 minutes beginning at 10:00 a.m. Cathy and Jennifer will be meeting everyone in their space and asking them questions about their requirements and desires. They will also be assessing the furniture as they go. Some pieces will stay and others will not be returning once we have been revitalized. Ergonomics will figure prominently in their decisions. The furniture will all be seen as a collective and will be reassembled according to what is learned on Monday. As always, if you have any questions, you know where to find me. I'm always happy to chat with you.

Re:News

We've been learning from the reading that we've been doing as well as discussions with others who have been through a renovation project that communication is essential. Peter, Ruth, Rudi and I are members of the Communications Committee whose job it is to ensure that the public and staff are constantly updated on our progress. This will be accomplished through blog posts, press releases and newspaper advertising. We will also be publishing a newsletter called "Re:News". The first edition is scheduled to be circulated with the "Elgin County Market" most likely this Saturday, November 27th. We will be publishing two more editions, one in early spring 2011 to talk about construction and a final "We're finished!" edition.

The goal of "Re:News" is to let the community know that we are revitalizing, why we are doing so and what the community can expect. The first edition will introduce me as "Revitalization Coordinator" so people have a name to contact with questions and concerns and a face to put to that name. There will be a project timeline, blurbs about the project itself, news about the Palmer donation, some of Katelyn's research findings and statistics and a message from the Board chairman.

To Move or Not to Move

Welcome to Friday and your weekly update on the revitalization process (yes, I just don't have enough to tell you to write daily!!). I know that many of you are being asked by customers whether or not the library will be relocating during the construction. Rudi and I are busy investigating possible locations and are also working with John Knox to see whether or not a phased move is possible or desirable. If asked at the library or in the grocery store or at a party etc., just tell folks that we’re still investigating options, but should have a more definite idea in mid-November.


Enjoy the weekend....