With the expansion and renovation of the James B. Duke Library nearing completion, the main entrance and first floor of the original library building reopened on Tuesday, July 27. The library was closed for just one day for the move of collections and offices into the newly renovated first floor of the original building. The temporary side entrance, which had been used during 2003-04, is now permanently closed. By the beginning of fall term all library collections, services, and offices should be moved into their permanent locations, although there will still be some finish work in progress. The dedication ceremony for the expanded building is scheduled for October 28. News, photos, and other information about current construction are available on the Construction Information page. Details about the finished project, including floorplans and drawings, are available on the Library Building Project page.

Library Struck by Lightning

The Library was struck by lightning on Saturday, June 20 during a heavy thunderstorm which passed through that night. The lightning hit the top of the left chimney (as seen from the front of the building) and then ran down the length of it, ripping a 12 foot long, 3 foot wide gash in its side. As a result, pieces of brick showered down onto the slate roof below. Due to the extent of the damage, the entire chimney will be replaced, along with many of the slate tiles on the roof that were broken by falling debris. Click here for pictures of the chimney.

New Library Personnel

Victoria Welborn will be joining the library faculty in August as Science Librarian. Victoria has a B.A. in Biology from Wake Forest University, an M.L.S. from Kent State University, and is currently completing a Masters in Ocean Sciences from UC Santa Cruz. She previously served as Ocean Sciences/Biological Sciences Librarian and Head of the Science Library at the University of California at Santa Cruz. She previously served as Head of the Biological Sciences Library at Ohio State University. Victoria has already begun participating in the planning of a new science library as part of the future science complex expansion.

Jimmy Quinn has joined the library staff as Evening Circulation Assistant. Jimmy is a 2003 Furman graduate with a B.A. in Art History. Jimmy's most recent position was as Computer Operator for the Greenville Hospital System. As a student Jimmy worked in the Maxwell Music Library, Special Collections and Archives, and the Art Department slide library.

Librarian Appointed ACS Environmental Fellow

Scott Salzman, Systems Librarian, has been appointed as the Associated Colleges of the South Environmental Fellow at Furman University for 2004-05. He will serve as the key campus spokesperson for the ACS Environmental Initiative and as a catalyst to stimulate environmental and sustainable development activity on campus. He has a BS in Physical Education from the State University of New York at Cortland, an MA in Fitness. Management from New York University, and an MLS from University of Arizona. Before coming to Furman, he served as systems librarian at Mankato State University, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, and at Mercer University Law School.

Director Elected to OCLC Members Council

Janis Bandelin, Director of Libraries, is one of sixty representatives world-wide to be elected to the OCLC Members Council, an international nonprofit cooperative dedicated to furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. With headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, more than 45,000 libraries in 84 countries and territories around the world use OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials. She will represent the libraries of SOLINET -- the Southeastern Library Network for a three-year term which begins in October.