Look What Santa Brought!

Santa stopped by the Sahyun Library and dropped off some window glass for the old wing and some concrete for the new trash area.  We've been awaiting that glass for a long time.  The trash area is required by the terms of our building permit, and so are some modifications we must make to our parking area to increase the number of available slots.

Tony and Carlos build forms for the pad for the trash bins.

Tony and Carlos erect the gate for the trash area.

Concrete has been poured, the gate is set, now Tony will build a fence around it and it will be ready to go.  We'll put a hedge around part of it to mute the impact of the structure.

Aren't these nice?  They were worth waiting for.  Next step?  Paint the exterior.

These are the new kitchen windows.  We'll clean the tile rather then replace it.

The Long Awaited Windows Arrive!

We have been waiting for this day for several months - the window frames for the old wing finally arrived!  Their installation is the key to renewed activity and progress toward completion of the library construction.  Look forward to the painter and the carpet installer to return to action very shortly to complete their work in the old wing.

Here new window frames are being installed in the old wing.

Glass panes will follow shortly.

And on the same day the electricians installed two new lamps in the parking lot.

New Views of New Items

Have you been to the Sahyun Library lately and seen what's been completed?  Besides the stack and computer rooms, some of the other rooms and facilities are now in full use.  Have a look!

The John C. Woodward Reading Room, formerly the Fireplace Room, is a very comfortable space for study and small meetings.  The fireplace is still there.

The office for the library staff is spacious and utile.

The new reception desk is an impressive addition to the Thelma Bowser Entry.

The "book nook" offers new books, research aids, and genealogical trinkets.

And the roses in our new gardening are beginning to bloom.  Come and see!

Time Capsule

These have been slow days for construction at the Sahyun Library, owing to the nonchalance of some equipment suppliers, and the permit stalling.  Thus, the partitions for the women's bath finally came - but they are the wrong color.  New windows for he old wing were supposed to be delivered at the beginning of the week, but that probably won't happen until after Thanksgiving.  And after hoping and trying to trench the street this past summer, we still have no action from Caltrans about if and when it will approve a permit for us to connect our fire suppression system into the Castillo Street water main.  So with little else to do, Jim Friestad and Art Sylvester squirreled away a time capsule that commemorates the bookcase building team members.  Here it is during construction and then in completed form:

Now we're in November . . . . . .

Some electrical work, some gopher extermination, and the last of the HVAC work was done last week, including installation of these two HVAC condensers that were missing in the previous blog.

At the beginning of this week, work was started in the parking lot to install some street lamps.  Pictures of those lights will be forthcoming, but for now, see the the men cutting the asphalt before a trencher digs a trench for the electrical conduits.

The asphalt is thin and old, so it cuts easily.

This fellow is tearing up the asphalt between the cuts. 

 Ever wonder what a nice trench looks like?  Here is the one across our parking lot that will carry electrical conduit for a street lamp at the end of the trench.

Here's Carlos with a pneumatic tamper compacting the dirt in the trench after the conduits have been emplaced.

What's yet to be done?

Now that we've had a Grand Opening, now that we've completed Family History Month, and now that the library is open for research, what has to be done next?  Lots of little things and several big things as are illustrated in the images below.

This is one of the condensers for the air conditioning system, but notice that there is place for another one.  Yes, we're awaiting delivery of the second one and have been for a couple weeks.

And here is place for another even bigger condenser, and we've been awaiting just as long for its delivery.  Once these units are in place, then we'll have heating and air conditioning throughout the library.

New windows for the old wing have been on order for two months.  Maybe we get them in mid November.  Then we can paint the exterior and renovate the old periodical room with new carpet and paint.

And what do you think this pipe is?  We have several of them around the building.  

They are for the downspouts that will be installed when we install new rain gutters.

But we cannot hook up the rain gutters and down spouts until we've hooked up the fire suppression valve to the City water main in the middle of Castillo Street.

We are at the mercy of a permit from Caltrans for that work, and there's no telling when it will be in our hands.

This space alongside the garage will be enclosed and paved as a trash enclosure.  Right now, however, it is a good parking space.  In addition we will emplace a nice lamp post for evening illumination.

Lastly, the brick circle around the orange tree in the patio needs to be completed.  

"Buy a Brick!"

Ribbon Cutting and the Library is Declared Open!!

The stars turned out to make speeches and to cut the red ribbon.

SBCGS President Mary Hall opens the ceremonies on a bright, sunny day.

 Jim Friestad thanks the 38 volunteers who worked more than 3000 hours to build the new book cases in the stack room.

First District County Supervisor Salud Carbajal with Grand Opening co-chair and SBCGS President-Elect, Bob Bason, enjoy the moment.

City of Santa Barbara Mayor, Helene Schneider, joins Salud and Bob in a light moment prior to using those big scissors on that red ribbon.

And finally, the SBCGS Board of Directors helps Mayor Helene Schneider cut that red ribbon, and we're off and researching in the new and renovated Sahyun Library!

Time to Spiffy Up the Place for the Grand Opening!!!

All, well, almost everything is in place and ready for the Grand Opening, but first the place needs one last dusting, decorating, and a last minute inspection.

Light fixtures receive a good dusting.

Emily and Cheryl position the Tree of Honored Members.

John Woodward makes sure the patio posts are vertical.

Cheryl and Michelle contemplate placement of the name bricks around the orange tree.

John, Cheryl, and Michelle position kangaroo plants for the big day.

Lydie adds a floristic touch to brighten the place.

And at last everything is ready, so Dave and Jean take a well-deserved rest.

Getting Close to Opening!

Yes, things are coming together and the Sahyun Library is getting very close to opening.  Behold!

Oooops, something is missing!  But well, they work.  Partition order has been delayed.

Here's John Woodward with his pair of drinking fountains.  What a welcome addition they are!

These are two of the new computers and chairs just needing someone to start using them to find ancestors.

Mary Marsh is looking to buy some books from the beautiful new book nook.

And the garden is set to start growing.  All is ready!

Nearing Completion of Construction

We are nearing completion of construction just in time for the October 2 Grand Opening.

Soon we will have an air conditioned library. 

Preparation for final painting is being completed.

Tiling of the old and new entries will be complete by Friday, September 23 as will the paver installation outside.

Former entrance

New entryway

Outside new entrance

The reception desk in the new entryway has been

installed and tiled around.

Reception desk and Book Nook sales shelves

Reception desk being tiled around

Reception desk and Book Nook sales area

Landscaping is well underway

Plantings ready to be planted

Looking toward Castillo Street

Patio outside new addition looking toward market

Fruit trees remain

Watch for the next Construction Update