During the next few weeks, the West Virginia and Regional History Collection, along with 47,000 volumes from the general collection, and WVU libraries faculty and staff will relocate to the renovated Charles C. Wise Jr. Library.


The process will bring permanent improvements to services that students and faculty receive at WVU , but may cause some temporary inconveniences.


At times during the move, some materials may not be immediately available. However, Libraries Dean Frances OBrien assures users that Downtown Campus Library staff will work diligently to minimize inconveniences.


This move is the second in 12 months for WVU Libraries. Last fall, workers transported books, periodicals, microfilm, maps and staff offices from Wise, the Physical Science Library in Clark Hall, and the Maps Library in White Hall to the new Downtown Campus Library, which was still closed to the public. Library staff assisted users by placing a help desk in the lobby of Wise and retrieving books and other materials.


“Our staff worked very hard to meet patronsneeds while the collections were in transition,”OBrien said.”We received very few complaints. I think our users know well always do our best to get them the materials they need.”


OBrien anticipates another relatively smooth transition this time. Crews began moving the West Virginia and Regional History Collection this week, and WVRHC Director John Cuthbert expects to open the doors of the new space on the sixth floor of Wise during the week of Nov. 18 subject to the approval of the state fire marshal. The collection and microfilm will be closed during the process. Access to the archives and manuscripts will be available by appointment through Nov. 23.


Portions of the general collection will be moved during the Thanksgiving break. To assist the move, the Downtown Campus Library will be closed Nov. 27-30. The following will be relocated: Appalachian Collection; African Collection; ORLA Collection; theses and dissertations; National Union Catalog, pre-56 imprints; and books with call numbers beginning with PR and PS.


For more information about the relocation of materials to the renovated Charles C. Wise Jr. Library, contact Carroll Wilkinson, head of access services, at 293-4040, ext. 4011, or John Cuthbert, director of the WVRHC , at 293-3536.