Expanded Perkins Library to Open

Bostock Library, von der Heyden Pavilion to open doors Oct. 12

Thursday, October 6, 2005

Durham, N.C. -- The Bostock Library and the von der Heyden Pavilion open on Wednesday, Oct. 12. These two buildings, along with a tower addition to Perkins and the three-story gateway joining Perkins and Bostock, increase Perkins’ size by more than 120,000 sq. ft.

The new library spaces include several large reading rooms, group study rooms, and informal seating areas to accommodate more than 500 readers. Among the technological features of Bostock are wireless access throughout and more than 90 public computer workstations.

At Wednesday’s opening, the main library entrance will move temporarily to the gateway that connects the building to Perkins. The gateway, near the rear of Old Chemistry, is accessible from both the main quad and the Fitzpatrick CIEMAS. Just inside this new entrance, staircases and elevators lead to all floors of Bostock and to Perkins offices and stack areas. Most of the book collection will remain in Perkins.

All library public services formerly located on the first floor of Perkins are moving to Bostock to allow for the complete renovation of the Perkins first floor. As of Oct. 12, Reference and Research Assistance, as well as Access and Delivery Services (including Reserves and Interlibrary Loan), will be located on the first floor of Bostock, along with Current Periodicals and Newspapers.

Other library departments and services are also moving to Bostock. The Center for Instructional Technology will relocate to the lower level of the new building. The second floor will house reading rooms and staff offices for International and Area Studies. The Public Documents and Maps Department (including Data Services) will move from the basement of Perkins to the third floor of Bostock.

After Oct. 12 the entrance to Perkins Library from the quad will still provide access to the Biddle Rare Book Room, the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library and the von der Heyden Pavilion, where a café operated by the Mad Hatter’s Bake Shop will soon offer food and beverages.

Construction of Bostock and the von der Heyden Pavilion is the first stage of the Perkins Project. In addition to the renovation of the first floor of Perkins, future phases, which are still being planned, will include renovation of additional floors and stack areas, re-positioning of the entrance to Perkins, and renovations of the Gothic and Deryl Hart reading rooms.