Ames Library History and Facts
The Ames Library opened on January 9, 2002 and is named in honor of B. Charles Ames '50 and Joyce Eichhorn Ames '49.
The Ames Library is the intellectual heart of Illinois Wesleyan University. It is here that scholarly information, regardless of format, is gathered, organized, and prepared for dissemination to the University community. In addition, the library provides a place for interaction, collaboration, consultation, study and reflection.
This five-floor building was completed in 2002. Located on the university's south side, the building offers a variety of study facilities ranging from individual carrels to group study rooms. On the entry level, new books, current periodicals, newspapers, and a specially appointed public reading area welcomes library users. Books are in full view on all levels, with contiguous, quiet reading spaces that take full advantage of abundant natural lighting.
The Ames Library is arranged with the researcher in mind. When conducting research, a library user will find content on a given topic in the same physical location regardless of format so that ease of access is enhanced. For example, when searching in Ames Library for information on Martin Luther King, Jr., a researcher will find books, journal articles, videos, and electronic sources (available on scholarly workstations) all in the same place.
The Scholarly Workstations are personal computers with unique functions that relate to the physical collection surrounding them. There are seven workstation clusters throughout the library, each with six computers, a printer and help-phone that connects to the Information Services Desk. Each computer runs application software for writing, creating presentations, or working on spreadsheets. In addition, these computers have subject specific software and resources pertaining to the disciplines in the area, integrating spatially the print with the electronic collection.
Self-directed researchers are encouraged to use these computers for extended periods of time and to gather together all of the relevant print and electronic sources that are appropriate for the project at hand. By placing the computers within such close proximity to the print and media collection, we enable students and faculty to locate high-quality information regardless of its physical or virtual format, blending technology and tradition.
Novice researchers are encouraged to use computers located in the Information Commons so that they may interact with library faculty when assistance or direction is needed. By placing these computers within such close proximity to the Information Services Desk, we enable student and faculty research in new areas with guidance in terms of searching techniques, identification of the best indices, and evaluation of sources.
The Thorpe Digital Center (formerly Thorpe Music & Media Center) is located on the 3rd floor of The Ames Library. The TDC offers students and faculty equipment, software and assistance in scanning and digitally creating and editing film using iLife software as well as offering laptops, LCD projectors, digital cameras and camcorders, portable dry erase boards and more for checkout. A variety of seating and three fully equipped group listening rooms are available for individuals listening to compact discs, audio cassette tapes, phonograph recordings, and viewing videocassettes, laserdiscs, and dvds. The collection includes an array of sound recordings, including recorded performances of the I.W.U. School of Music. Music scores, books, periodicals, and theatrical and music videos are shelved in the 3rd floor stacks area adjacent to the Center. Two scholarly workstations are located nearby that offer access to a variety of discipline related databases.
The Tate University Archives and Special Collections is on the 4th floor. The university archives is the repository for the history of Illinois Wesleyan and its present and former students, faculty and staff. Among the special collections are the papers of former U.S. Congressman Leslie C. Arends; the Gernon collection of first editions of detective fiction and mysteries; the Schultz collection of 18th and 19th Century British Drama, including The Beggar's Opera; and selections from the personal book collection of former President Minor Myers, jr. These collections provide students with many opportunities to do original research.
The library is a member of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois, a network of over fifty Illinois college and university libraries whose on-line catalog provides access to the twenty-two million volumes held by these academic libraries as well as 750 public and special libraries in the state. Materials not owned by Illinois Wesleyan University can be easily borrowed through inter-library loan.
Architects:
Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbot Boston, Massachusetts
Contracting/ Construction Management:
Feimley- Dickerson Company, Bloomington, Illinois
Engineers:
Mechanical and Electrical – BBA Engineers, Bloomington, Illinois
Civil – Farnsworth & Wylie, Bloomington, Illinois
Structural – Lim Consultants, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Landscape – Brown/Sardina, Boston, Massachusetts
Construction Details:
Groundbreaking, November 6, 1999
Construction begun, February 2000
Excavation, March 2000
Masonry completed, October 1, 2001
Dedication, October 6, 2001
Official opening, January 9, 2002
Cost, $26 million
Total Hours, 168,480 hours (representing 54 workers)
Building Length, 190 feet
Building Width, 114 feet
Building Height, 94 feet to the roofline
100 feet 8 inches to the top of the Rotunda
Volume, 2.2 million cubic feet
Square Footage, 103,000 square feet
Building Materials:
Exterior – Brick, trimmed with Indiana limestone
Rotunda – Honduras mahogany wood, thermal cut granite, polymix paint,cold cathode lighting and carpet
Main Flooring – Carpet, total amount 9000 SY (81,000 SF)
4th Floor Rotunda Flooring – Cork
All Other Flooring – Granite, total weight 54 Tons (108,000 Ibs)
Total Concrete Used – 13.8 million pounds
Structural Steel – 860 tons
Rebar Steel – 206 tons
Brick – 445,000 bricks (2.22 million lbs.)
Glass Windows – 11,816 square feet (approx. 73,850 lbs.)
Electrical Wire – 75.75 miles
Plumbing Pipe – 24.62 miles
Paint – 1,482 gallons
Roof Garden – 570 payers (110 lbs each)
Ames Plaza – 20,700 payers
Landscape, Total Number of:
Shrubs 800
Grasses 5435
Trees 160
Plants 1138
Stained Class Panels 4th Floor Rotunda:
8 sets, 16 total, weighing 35 pounds apiece. A gift from Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, the windows are originally from Pembroke College, Oxford. Restored by Terry Garbe & staff at “A Touch of Glass” Normal, Illinois. See the Pembroke Brochure for more information.
Other Library Facts:
Library Faculty 9
Staff 15
Number of Volumes in Collection 368,317
Approximate number of linear feet of books moved to form the library’s circulating collection:
- from Sheean Library 21,413 feet
- from Thorpe Music Library 1,011.25 feet
- from off-site storage 2,664.916 feet
Shelving 936 rows, thistle color
Number of Group Study Rooms 16
Project Rooms 3
Auditorium seating 70
Comfortable Lounge seating 150
Number of Public Computers:
Information Commons 24
Library Instruction Lab 26
Express Workstations 6
Scholarly Workstations 42
Laptops for checkout 18
Number of furniture pieces with network connections 128
Number of data jacks 865
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