Daniel J. Evans Library to undergo major renovation

The Evans Library building is being renovated from the ground up. The exterior appearance will largely remain the same - but the interior of the building is being reborn.

The project aims to make the 360,000 square foot building more energy efficient and to create a more effective learning and working environment for Evergreen's 4400 students and nearly 800 faculty and staff.

While some work has already started in the library building, major construction will begin in March. To accommodate the first phase of construction, 137,765 books - about half of the entire college collection - have been moved to other locations in the building. The college archives and rare books collections are also being moved.

The project was listed as one of the top facilities priority by all of the state's four-year institutions, and is broken up into two phases. The $21 million first phase includes the library, computer, photo, and media areas and other spaces of the building. The second phase, planned to begin design in 2005, will focus on the administrative offices, classrooms, and the fourth floor. Seismic, structural, life safety and indoor air quality improvements are being made during both phases.

The Evergreen library will remain open during the renovation and will continue to serve students as well as residents of the greater community. For more information about services and resources that the Evergreen library offers to residents of the greater Olympia area, call the reference and information desk at (360) 867-6252.