Building Renovation

April 4, 2013 - Last volume leaves the fifth floor of the Taubman Health Sciences Library

April 4, 2013: The last volume shelved on the fifth floor of the Taubman Health Sciences Library is loaded for transport to remote storage.

Update: Regents Approve Taubman Libary Renovation plans

Update: Click here for a Flickr set of drawings of the planned renovation

Books on the Move! video

THL Renovation FAQ

What’s actually leaving the building?
Generally, all of our printed journals and printed books published before 2008.

What’s staying?

Printed books published in 2008 or later plus the most used printed books published before then and Course Reserves items.
These items are in a temporary location in the building and are available upon request using Get This or in-person at our Information Desk.
Additionally our growing collection of e-books (85,000+) and online journals (4200+) remains accessible from on and off campus.

Where are the other books and journals going? Can I go there myself?
The Health Sciences Remote Shelving Facility is located off campus and is open only to MLibrary staff.

When will the move occur?
The move will start on Monday, March 4, 2013 and is expected to be completed by Friday, May 17, 2013.

During the move, can I study at the Library?
During the weekday (8AM - 4:30 PM) , there are areas of the library that will be noisy, but the noise will be limited to a single floor at a time. All areas of the library will be open for study in the evenings and on the weekends. Alternate quiet study locations during the day are the Graduate Library, the third and fourth floors of the Shapiro Library, and the Art, Architecture, and Engineering Library. The last two buildings are open 24/7.

Can I still use the books and journals on-site at Taubman Health Sciences Library before they are moved?
Yes, check Mirlyn for book locations.

How will I get books or journals that will be stored in the Health Sciences Remote Shelving Facility?

For UM Affiliates there are three options:

Use 7FAST to request journal articles, book chapters, or books. There will be a charge for Undergraduates. University of Michigan Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students can use the service free of charge.

Use the GetThis feature in Mirlyn to request delivery of books to a Campus library. (This option is currently not available for journal volumes.)

Fill out the Health Sciences Remote Shelving Facility Item Request form to request delivery of books or journals to a Campus library.

For the general public

Items will be delivered from the remote location to any UM Library upon request and without charge. These materials can then be used in-house (i.e. must remain in the building). Use the Health Science Remote Shelving Facility Item Request form to make requests.

Note: General Circulation policies appy to items in the Health Sciences Remote Shelving Facility.

Why are the printed books and journals moving?
The use of our printed library materials has changed. The majority of our users prefer to access information electronically. This allows for repurposing of library spaces to better meet the needs of our users.

What will the Library do with the space?
The 5th and 6th floors of our building will be renovated to be more effectively used for health sciences education. Some examples of things that might be in this space include classrooms, small group rooms, or testing facilities.

What will happen to the Library?
The Library will remain on the 4th floor and continue to play an important role in education, research, and patient care. This is a win-win situation for us and the health sciences programs.

When will the renovation start? Will the Library be closed during that time?
Renovations to the building will begin some time after the materials have been moved. Library service will continue to be offered during the renovation.

Where should I direct additional questions or comments?
Our email address is thlibrary@umich.edu. We will be glad to answer any questions that may not have been addressed here, or to hear your comments and feedback about our renovation.

(FAQ revised and updated March 19, 2013)