University of South Carolina Libraries
Libraryp Io more BY tEORGE MORRIS Of The Gamecock staff Trhe recently announced delay in the completion of USC's central library will probably be the last such delay. according to 1*SC's director of libraries. "They're pretty well wrapping it all up." Kenneth E. Toombs said. "but it's just a big project and it won't get finished in time for the furniture to be moved in by this summer." Bad weather and change or ders tchanges in building materials and design specifications) have delayed the completion of the library, on which construction began in July, 1972. "The construction was sup posed to take about two-and-a half years." Toombs said, "but we had a run of bad weather for about six months at the start." In all such projects, a late completion penalty is provided in, the contract. setting a date after which the contractor must pay a set amount each day for finishing the building. In this case, Dargan Construction Co. would pay $300 for every day late in finishing work on the oeiginal building. However, a dispute exists concerning when this date should be. The University set June 1 as the date, while Dargan said the date should be Dec. 1, 1975. This involves a contract dispute in which Dargan claims a six-month extension provided for in the contract. Gil Perry, campus planning director, said Dargan was allowed to begin work on the original building earlier than the contract planned, and this should nullify the extension. Perry said change orders have affected the date, and added Dargan plans to be finished by July 4. Witten drop-in An informal drop-in honoring Dean Charles H. Witten will be held all day Tuesday in the Student Affairs office in the Pendleton Building. The reception is for students who have known Witten through the years and wish to say goodby to him before he steps down from his post as Dean of Student Affairs, effective June. 30. Refreshments will be served. Witten, serving as head of the division of Student Affairs for 12 years.,will return to the education department, where he taught since 1962. He came to Carolina in 1960 as professor and head of the Department of Naval Science. In a letter to USC President M illiam H. Patterson announcing the resignation last fall, Witten said: "Although. in the sum total my years as a student affairs ad ministrator hhve been very satisfying years, as I have seen progress and accomplishments, they have not been without their price mn weariness and detraction cyipersonal and family life. For now, the Inducements to and witi ultime to teaching and wr icreasing." 00 roject: lelays But finishing the construction is only part of the work, ac cording to Toombs. "They (Dargan) will be finished sometime this summer, but for us to move in this sum mer, the building would have had to be substantially ready by this week. The bookstacks won't get in until mid-July, furnishings will be in by October and there's all the other kinds of furniture," he said. He added about $250,000 worth of furniture in use in the USC libraries will also be used in the new central library. The proportions of the library make the moving that 'much more complicated. Sixty miles of steel bookshelves, weighing- more than 500,000 pounds must be installed along with 29,000 square yards nf carpet. The library collections will be moved during the Christmas break, and the library will be ready for use in January, 1976. . "This is an extremely large project," Toombs said. "It will be the largest academic building in South Carolina. You could fit Capstone in the underground part alone. Only two-sevenths of the building shows; five sevenths of it is underground." IDe IR- $o WIN Avel W -Ab6 nals CInon in. Let BurgeKing help you"suffer"through final exams. Show us your student I.D. card V' serve you a big helping of sympathy. And a cup of coffee. Free. 1211 College St. Open all night C IN TOUC H!.. YOUR OtP Ro0MIE!" TATE ONE-MIwATE DIAL ah~d WEEICEND CALLERS ? Soutem Be.