Site Work and Landscaping

A couple weeks ago, workers from the the landscaping subcontrator, Lovisa and Barone, began preparing the site for planting. Trees and shrubs went in the ground just in time for several good soaking rains. Reddish shrubs will screen the electrical equipment from view in this courtyard north of the bookstore.

We are looking out at a lot of mud and weeds right now with pools of of water to support the mosquito population. Seeds and plugs will be started in September when the sun is a bit lower in the sky and there is a better chance of regular gentle rains.

The site of the new building has been graded to channel the stormwater off the roof away from the building and into raingardens where it will seep into the soil. Raingardens will be established in between the wings of the building using native plants that have deep root systems for absorbing and cleansing the rain water. In heavy downpours, water that cannot be absorbed by the rain gardens will be directed north to the large area near the seminary drive where prairie grass will be planted. We have had several heavy rains in the past couple weeks so we can see that the grading is working as planned.

It will take a couple years for the plants to become established in the raingardens and the prairie restoration areas both north of the building and over the geothermal well field. During this time, we will be looking at scraggly seedlings and bare ground. Weeds will be managed by mowing before seeds develop.

The AMBS maintenance staff is prepared for the challenge of nurturing the native plants and prairie. JF New, a local firm that specializes in restorative landscaping, will provide services and advice during these first growing seasons as the plants become established. Don Yoder, retired landscape designer, is a valued volunteer who has worked on other prairie restoration projects in southern Michigan.

Students Find Preferred Seating

It's one thing to arrange tables and chairs on a flat sheet of paper in the design process. Over a year ago, we tried to predict where people would want to study and their preferences for study furniture. This week the furniture arrived and now we will see where people choose to sit.

The plan called for soft chairs at all the big windows in the north reading area. However, on the two sides of the room, we decided to put study tables instead of soft chairs. Today, those tables were the first ones chosen for sustained study by visiting scholar, Josh Yoder and AMBS student, Christina Litwiller.

The new photocopier was supposed to arrive today but it didn't. We expected the periodical display shelving to be completed today but the technician didn't show up. Somethings will have to wait for next week.

However, I did catch Bob Yoder, site supervisor for DJ Construction, in action. Bob has been here almost every day since ground breaking on April 17, 2006. Now he is finishing up the details of the project which today meant installing the walk-off mat in the entryway. Bob's partner today was Christopher Payne.

Bob will stay at AMBS for the renovations in Waltner Hall. DJ Construction took away Bob's trailer office out on the construction site. His new office/shop / scrap pile is in the library reading room. Next week he will direct the installation of the lift just off the hallway in the north wing of Waltner Hall. This lift will make the Conference Room handicap accessible.

Volunteers Complete Half of Shelf-Reading

For the past two weeks, we have had volunteers working to prepare the library for operation. They have moved shelving units and books. They have cleaned shelves and prepared lunches. Best of all, they have begun the huge task of taking inventory in the circulating book collection. Each card in our holdings catalog must be compared to the shelf to confirm that every book is accounted for and in the right place.

Vernard Ginguerich, retired Elkhart County pastor, has completed two weeks of shelf reading, the library term for inventory. On Monday, former AMBS Board member Bob Carlson and his wife Phyllis from the Kansas City area began work in the stacks. AMBS alumni parents Ed and Hedy Rempel from Chatham, Ontario joined the crew for the week. Rhoda Schrag, local pastor and teacher, enjoyed the detail-oriented work of shelf reading and also prepared fabulous lunches for the team using fresh local fruits and vegetables.

Willis Sutter, a retired dentist from Illinois, has taken on the tedious task of putting security strips in the circulating book collection. Lorna McDougall, AMBS faculty spouse, prepared delicious lunches every Monday. Sharon Baker, AMBS volunteer coordinator provided support with morning snacks and other logistics.

We expect a small group of volunteers next week. Please contact me if you would like to join the group even if it is just for one day.

Furniture Arrives

Last week the library tables arrived in two shipments, some on Wednesday and the remainder on Friday. Then today the upholstered chairs arrived from Sauder Woodworking. In the foreground of this picture you can see two of the study tables. They are solid cherry with a durable linoleum work surface. This is the same linoleum that is on the floor in the back hallways. We purchased the popular three-position study chairs for use at the tables. The are visible in the foreground. The wood frames match the cherry tables. This photo was taken in the central reading area adjacent to the reference collection. Two of these six lounge chairs will eventually be placed closer to the entrance in the current periodicals reading area.

The gallery/commons area has two loveseats back-to-back and six chairs arranged to form two conversation areas by the large window. In this area you can see across the courtyard to the Conference Room.

The bookstore has two chairs for customer comfort and that "Barnes and Noble" atmosphere. You can even buy coffee, fair trade, that is.

As if this was not enough excitement, we also welcomed Virgil Kilpin and crew who brought the new periodical display shelving. They are now erecting the shelving just inside the entrance to the library. Every current title will have a space on a slanted display shelf. Earlier issues from the current year are stored under the hinged shelf. There will be two rows of display shelving in front of the back periodicals and also three sections of wall shelving in the corner for the Peace Periodicals Collection.