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Opening a new library in tough times: Here's why and how we did it
David Tyckoson
On February 20, 2009, the new Henry Madden Library at our university opened to the public. At 360,000 square feet and US $105 million, this was the largest academic project ever at Fresno State, resulting in the largest library at any of the California State University system campuses.
At a time when the world economy is in the worst recession (maybe even depression) in our lifetime, at a time when universities and libraries of all types are slashing budgets, why did this happen? Why did we build a library and make it the largest academic building on campus in an era when "everything is on the Internet"? And did we experience, along the way, any bumps due to the turbulence of these economic times?
Following is our story, which I hope may help other administrators facing completing or needing to launch construction of new libraries despite the challenging economic climate.
Meet an established need
Although our new library opened in 2009, the process to create it took a long time. From his arrival on campus in 1989, former dean Michael Gorman worked with the university administration to promote the need for a new library building. The previous building (opened in 1956, and added onto in 1981) had long since reached capacity. Shelves occupied space needed for seating, and the building was completed before today's standard information technology was even a dream. Retrofitting or adding to the building became prohibitive. Over the years, a new library building rose to the top of the list of campus building needs.
Secure stable funding
Nothing destroys a capital project faster than losing its funding. If a project's budget is reduced while the project is in process, an envisioned large building that truly meets the needs of a campus can become a bare-bones building that isn't much of an improvement over an existing structure.
At Fresno, the new library project didn't begin until a stable funding base was identified. For this project, a 2003 statewide bond issue provided that funding. With the tireless work of the library dean and university president, the new library at Fresno State was designated for $90 million fromProposition 55.When that bond issue passed, the library project took off.
Design for the ages, not for today
Once you have secure funding, the hard work begins. What does a 21st-century library look like?What services, technologies and features affect the architecture of a new library? Do we build the best library of today—or a building that will function today, tomorrow and long into the future? This is a balancing act with no clear answer.
At Fresno, we wanted a building that would grow and evolve over time. As a result, we incorporated several design features that we believe will adapt to future needs. These features include emphasizing flexible open spaces and making technology ubiquitous.
Plan a realistic timeline and expect challenges
Library Dean Peter McDonald (center left) and
University President John Welty (center right) cut
the
ribbon for the new library.
After the passage of the bond act in March 2003, an architect, A.C. Martin from Los Angeles, was hired and basic designs developed. Since we were replacing an existing building, we moved out in 2005 and tore it down in 2006. The 1981 addition served as our home until May 2008, when we moved out completely to allow for renovation of that area. The entire project was to be completed by the end of December 2008.
From May through December 2008, we were forced to provide library services with minimal physical facilities. All of the books were in a warehouse 12 miles from campus and were paged on request. Reference and circulation services were conducted out of a temporary location, and staff were scattered around campus, with the majority sent to modular units (i.e., trailers). No classrooms were available for instruction. Despite these sometimes frustrating circumstances, we continued to provide all library services.
Know that even stable funding isn't always secure
In December 2008, the California governor announced a halt to all state construction projects in response to the state budget crisis. As we were using bond funds from 2003 and our project was 99% complete at the time, we assumed this halt wouldn't affect us. We were wrong. In very difficult economic times, even secure funds are at risk.
Since the project was so close to finish, the campus negotiated with the construction company, Swinerton, to complete work on the building. Unfortunately, we had not yet paid for most of our new furniture and the earmarked funds were now frozen. In addition to the furniture, those funds were to pay for other finishing details, such as signs, window coverings and book trucks.
When times are tough, people need libraries more than ever.
It looked like we would have a new building with no signage, no place to sit and no trucks to use in shelving materials. After considerable deliberation, we decided to go ahead and open our new building using as much old and borrowed furniture as possible.We repossessed our old book trucks and paid for our own signs. To pay for new signs, we used library operations funds instead of building project funds. We felt new signage was important enough to forgo using those operations funds for other needs. The determining factor guiding the reopening was that our users — students and faculty — deserved a full-service library again.
Conclusion
Fortunately, our users looked beyond the old and borrowed furniture and saw the new library for what it really is: the academic centerpiece of campus. From the first day, they've flocked to the building. Using books and computers and journals, they sit in every type of space. They meet with friends, drink their coffee and experience the new library. Before we opened, we were a great new building. Now that our faculty and students are using it, we are a great new library.
When times are tough, people need
libraries more than ever. Although it may
be more difficult to get funding for a new
library in today's economic environment,
that money is never better spent. A library
is the centerpiece of its community,
whether for a college, a city or a country. In
Fresno, we see the new Madden Library as
serving —and adapting to — the needs of
our campus for decades to come. 
davety@csufresno.edu
www.csufresno.edu/library
Learn from the Henry Madden Library's forward-looking design features, which include:
The new Henry Madden Library
- Incorporating flexible, open spaces. As much as possible, we avoided fixed walls and created large open spaces. This gives the flexibility to adapt to future needs.
- Building for people, not materials. Wherever possible, user stations are in desirable locations (near windows, for example), with materials, offices and other rooms in less desirable areas. We also maximized the user space by minimizing the materials space. One entire floor of the library contains open-access, compact shelving — with a capacity of 1.4 million volumes — for the book collection. This is the largest installation of public-access compact shelving on one floor that we know of anywhere in the US.
- Making technology ubiquitous. In many new libraries, the building is centered on technology. We took an alternate approach, which was to put the technology everywhere and anywhere. As a result, there are no large banks of computers in this new library; in fact, there are fewer fixed computers than in the old building. The wireless network allows users to take their laptops — or one of our 200+ laptops available for checkout — and sit wherever they want. We don't know what tomorrow's technology will be like, but we know it will be different. We didn't want to limit this new building to the technology of 2009.
- Providing a variety of user spaces. Despite all the analyses of Millennials and Generations X and Y, not all users are the same. Some like quiet, some like noise. Some like individual study, some like group study. Some like to see and be seen, some like to hide. Some need computers, some bring their own. In designing user space, we incorporated variations so users can find spaces fitting their own learning styles.
- Creating spaces for special events. A library is much more than a collection of books and computers: It is also a social space. To make the library central to the campus, we created spaces for exhibits and events. Rooms of varying size and shape allow us to partner with departments to host meetings, lectures, concerts and other types of events. By becoming the place where others want to hold their events, the library becomes central to the entire campus, ensuring a broad base of future support.
