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In November, there were a lot of visual changes made at the Forsyth Library renovation site, including:

• the stone was removed on the north side of the building to make room for a 23′ window on the second level
• the crews prepared for the west windows by installing precast cement framing
• the hole in the floor on the south side of the main level has been cut, connecting the main level to the lower level with sight, sound, and light
• the south stairs have been installed with steel framing and concrete, the finish layer will be added later
• walls are being framed on the main level around the elevator core and the rooms on the west side of the building on the upper level where the future Honor’s College, Dean’s Suite, Archives, and the nook for our Juvenile Collection will be located
• the existing façade on the 3 sides of the lobby was demolished where a new foyer will give a 270 degree view of campus encompassed by windows

Take a look at the November recap video to see the exciting progress:

In this season of gratitude, there is so much to be thankful for, including the many people who have been involved and instrumental in the library renovation project thus far. A BIG thank you to …

• Senator Moran and Tisa Mason for securing the federal NIST grant as the base funding for this project. This was the first sign that the renovation that will make such a huge impact on FHSU and western Kansas was finally happening!
• FHSU’s Facilities Planning Office for spending countless hours preparing the initial program plan documents to put the project out to bid and working with the architects and construction management teams in a smooth manner according to project timelines.
• The Forsyth Library Renovation Committee for providing their ideas and insight early on in the process. Without such a great team we couldn’t have developed the program as effectively as we did.
• PGAV Architects who have plugged architectural expertise into every nook and cranny of the building plans. Every square foot will be utilized to its full potential to provide beautiful, functional spaces for our students and patrons.
• Representative Wasinger for helping us navigate design approval with state agencies so that we could honor our students’ number one request: more natural light!
• FHSU’s Grounds and Custodial teams who helped move every piece of furniture and shelving out of the building in preparation for construction.
• A. Arnold of Kansas City for expertly relocating each and every one of our books! Some had to move downstairs and some moved offsite for storage. We could not have launched the project without your help.
• FHSU’s Technology Services Team who helped advise with the specs and selection of new technology and helped repurpose, rehome, or recycle technology that was removed from the library.
• PWC Construction Crew for managing the construction site so well and making all of the plans come to life. Thanks for letting Dean Williams explore the site freely (and go on the roof!) so she’s aware of all the progress being made.
• All of the interested stakeholders who have attended library tours or presentations to learn about the renovation. Some have seen presentations given to alumni groups, at library conferences, and at department meetings. Others received a tour when the old library was still operational with only a few renderings and verbal descriptions of the future of each space to help fill their imaginations with what is to come. Others have been invited behind the scenes to the hard hat areas to see the construction progress. All have shown enthusiasm and genuine interest in the project and its lasting impact on the university and the community. Your excitement is contagious and we feel it!
• The many donors who have financially contributed to the project, whether they’ve committed to naming a space in the library or contributed to the library renovation fund through FHSU’s Annual Giving Day and other fundraisers. Every gift, no matter the size, will benefit FHSU students as we create this incredible space for the University!
• The FHSU Foundation for their advocacy and enthusiasm for fundraising for the project. Thank you for giving us so many opportunities to collaborate and share the story of this historical project with our community.
• Our students, faculty, staff, and patrons who are inconvenienced by the different phases of preparing for the renovation and the current limited use of the library during the renovation – we can’t wait to serve you at full capacity again soon!
• The Division of Student Affairs team who have offered extended hours in the Student Union and Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success to accommodate students’ late-night study needs.
• University Police and the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science for being such welcoming neighbors while many of us are temporarily housed in Custer Hall.
• Our amazing Forsyth Library staff and Honors College, Writing Center, Institute for New Media Studies, and MakerSpace partners who have been extremely flexible and adaptable at every stage of this project – from squeezing planning meetings into busy schedules to moving across campus in temporary offices and service locations, to ensuring continuity in providing library services for our patrons, even though that might mean having an office inside a noisy construction zone. Some of you have truly been asked to step up and do more or do differently – and you have exceeded that call. Thank you for responding to unanticipated and often unseen demands of this project.

This is such a HUGE project, and so many people have been involved in getting it where it is today. Even if you haven’t been directly involved, we can feel your support and enthusiasm and we appreciate you!

The renovation is progressing and there’s even more to be excited about! The demolition of Phase 1 is officially complete, and the bones of the newly renovated building continue to be built out with interior wall framing on all levels, the initial new south stairwell installation, and the first of the large 23-foot exterior windows is scheduled to be installed later this month. PGAV Architects recently shared a few new renderings that give a more detailed view of some of the larger spaces.

For the lower level, the new renderings show the:

• Open study space with extra-tall ceilings thanks to the cut-away in the floor that opens the lower level up to the main level, bringing natural light, sounds, and sight throughout the two levels. The open study space will be right outside the Institute for New Media Studies and their augmented reality, virtual reality, and technology-integrated projects;
• Makerspace work area with tables for collaboration, creation, and innovation using the variety of tools, 3D scanners, 3D printers, vinyl cutters, and laser cutters and engravers; and the
• Learning stair with a view toward the upper level with one of 15 group study rooms shown in the background.

For the main level, the new renderings show the:

• Presentation space with room for up to 112-people in theatre style seating or configurations for smaller groups to host workshops, professional development events, and other presentations; and the
• Welcome desk with a gold backlit resin finish that beams Tiger Gold, greeting guests as the main service point for checking out technology, library materials, and other services.

For the upper level, the new renderings show the:

• Larry and Lyn Fenwick Reading Room, which provides a formal research space for patrons and researchers from around the world to request and engage with documents, photographs and other materials from the Special Collections and Archives. If you look closely, you can see a Scott Gustafson Wizard of Oz painting near the entrance of the room; this space will also highlight an incredible Wizard of Oz Collection curated by the Fenwicks.

Won’t it be fabulous when these renderings become real life? We’re less than 16 months away from this all becoming a reality.

On October 25, Library Deans from across the state visited Fort Hays State University to see the progress of the Forsyth Library renovation. The tour was led by Dave Worthington and Steve Cramer from PGAV Architects, accompanied by Ginger Williams, Dean of Library Services at Forsyth Library. This video shows a behind-the-scenes tour of the recent progress, including the initial installation of the south stairwell, interior walls going up near the elevator core, trenchwork on the lower level to prepare for plumbing, and the beginning of HVAC installation on the main and upper levels.

Library leaders who attended the tour included:

• Carol Smith (University of Kansas)
• Joe Mocnik (Kansas State University)
• Brent Mai (Wichita State University)
• Wooseob Jeong (Emporia State University)
• Robert Lindsey (Pittsburg State University)
• Sean Bird (Washburn University)
• George Machovec (Executive Director, Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries)

While the staff at Forsyth Library talk about the library and the renovation every day, our friends at the Fort Hays State University Foundation have been keeping up with every detail of this project to help spread the word too. To help close the funding gap of $3M, Mary Hammond, Director of Development at the Fort Hays State University Foundation and FHSU superstar, and her colleagues have been cheerfully spreading the excitement of the project through conversations, tours, social media posts and more. We interviewed Mary to share her experience working on this project:

What is your involvement in the library renovation?
I get to help raise money through gifts and donations for FHSU, including this exciting transformation project at Forsyth Library. I’ve been able to see the excitement and interest for this project from alumni, donors and friends of FHSU and I’ve enjoyed hearing the stories from alumni about their library experiences.

What are some of your favorite stories that you’ve heard when talking with alumni, donors and friends about the library?
One alum told me that he used to take his shoes off during study breaks on the third floor and run and slide in his socks on the linoleum floors. Another alum told me that his parents met in the library when they were students. (Actually, that story rings true for many alumni). Learning and love can go hand in hand in Tigerland.

How can someone be a part of this renovation?
These memories of fun times and special people are why so many donors want to be a part of this project, by honoring their loved ones and their memories with contributions to name spaces and rooms inside Forsyth Library. Some spaces start as low as $5,000.00! Donors are excited to learn that they can make a pledge for a specific named space and take up to 3 years to pay off their pledge.

What type of people are most interested in donating to the Forsyth Library renovation?
My conversations with FHSU alumni, friends and donors encompass all majors and fields of study, which is also a fun and unique aspect of this project. As the library is a resource for everyone, I do not narrow my focus to a specific college on campus. As the famous Fort Hays State saying goes, “Everyone graduates from the library!”

Where can someone find more information about naming a space in the library?
I would be excited to talk with you about the possibility of naming a space in Forsyth Library. Whether you want to honor yourself and your time as an FHSU Tiger or honor and remember someone else. My e-mail is mshammond2@fhsu.edu and my phone number is 785-628-4728.

Demolition is still underway in Forsyth Library. The crane has been busy for the last two weeks moving large amounts of debris from tearing out the drywall, ducts, and materials from the former hallway of offices on lower level. Each morning, the crane lowers down an empty bin through the hole in the roof past the three stories of library to place the empty bin on the lower level of the building, ready for loading. Crews load the bin with debris and once it’s full, the crane operator lifts the bin up and out, skillfully maneuvering the loaded bin outside the building for disposal. Again and again.

It’s quite a sight to see a heavy bin dangling in midair as the crews use the crane to remove some of the last loads of debris from this phase one of the renovation. We are nearing the end of the demolition stage. Next month, some of the new walls will be framed up.

Life for FHSU students looks a little different this year. Why? Well, Forsyth Library is under renovation, and our facility has limited access. One of the biggest things missing is the dedicated study rooms and open spaces for students to study any day of the week or late into the evenings. Even with all the mayhem of relocating library staff and partners and the ongoing construction, students are still finding ways to be studious.

While study spaces are no longer available in Forsyth, students have mainly utilized the second floor of Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success (FWCSS). There is a windowed walkway between the Union and Fischli-Wills that has a great view of the outdoors, and students use the many chairs and tables in the walkway to study for classes. On a nice weather day, you’ll see students using the outdoor benches scattered throughout the campus to study and work on homework. Other favorite spots include the Rose Garden behind Picken Hall, the limestone benches behind the Union, and the comfy seating at Starbucks.

Forsyth Library made efforts to meet students where they were and equipped the study rooms in each of the residence halls with information about Forsyth Library’s Ask A Librarian Research Help Service, the Media Lab, and Technology Checkout to remind students of the services that are still available during construction.

We know that not having a fully functioning library space is hard on students, but we are glad that students are finding ways to use other parts of campus! Our new library is going to be a great place for students to work, study, and socialize, but it’s just going to take a little bit of time! Until then, students are finding their way to the Welcome Desk at Forsyth Library to say hi to the staff and check out technology. In the first three weeks of this semester, students checked out or renewed laptops, cameras, or other devices 97 times!

Written by Samantha Zimmerman, Student Employee at Forsyth Library
Photo: Students studying in a study room at Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success

It’s hard to not be curious when driving by a construction site, wishing to see a sneak peek of the progress going on inside. Well, today is your lucky day! Get a behind the scenes tour from Ginger Williams, Dean of Library Services, to see what the Forsyth Library Renovation looks like after a summer of demolition and hear about the exciting things that are forthcoming. The demolition started on May 13, 2024 and the video shows the progress of the work up through mid-August 2024.

You can start to see a vision for the Forsyth Library of the future!

When you hear that Forsyth Library is open during construction, what does that actually mean? Take a tour with Ginger Williams, Dean of Library Services, to know what to expect for the Fall 2024 semester.

For the fall semester, these are the operational updates the FHSU community will need to know about Forsyth Library:

What to expect from Forsyth Library this fall:

1. Limited access to Forsyth Library will be available starting Monday, August 19^th. The only public entrance is located on the northeast side of the existing foyer via our accessible entrance.
2. There are no study spaces or public restrooms available in Forsyth Library at this time.
3. Print materials from the general and juvenile collections must be requested for pickup by placing a hold in our catalog. Library personnel will retrieve them from storage outside of construction hours.
4. The Welcome Desk will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30am-6pm to check out technology and pick up books on hold or requested through Interlibrary Loan.
5. Special Collections and University Archives will also be open at Forsyth Library and available by appointment.
6. The Media Lab is located in Custer Hall 310 and is available by appointment.
7. Some staff will be present in the building while others remain at Custer Hall. See the Renovation Status page for that information.

What has not changed:

Online resources, such as access to journals articles and databases, e-books, archives online, and Scholars Repository, will not be impacted. Library faculty remain available for research help and information literacy instruction. We can all expect the renovation to be very disruptive to our use of space, but we will continue providing library services, including access to information, research help, and supporting information literacy instruction, throughout the process.

Thank you for your enthusiasm about this project. We appreciate your patience during this process. Feel free to reach out to me or to your library liaison if you have questions.

Helpful links for more information:

• Renovation status page with updates on the availability and location of library services and resources: https://www.fhsu.edu/library/spaces/renovation-status
• Renovation blog with renovation floor plans, renderings, and information about the new spaces: https://libraryrenovation.blogs.fhsu.edu/forsythrenovation/