James E. Brooks Library is where many CWU students find themselves diving into their studies and furthering their academic knowledge. However lately, staff and students are filled with complaints about the heating throughout the building. As the library celebrates its 50th anniversary, it welcomes changes that the university is hoping to solve these heating issues as well as overall improvements to the school’s longtime library.
Library Paraprofessional Tom Dell who works in access services and has worked at the library for nearly 28 years, is tired of the building feeling hot in some places and cold in others stating that it is uncomfortable at times.
“Sometimes people have to use their own space heaters, it’s not great,” Dell said. “It’s important that people are comfortable if they’re here to study. They are having to bring electric blankets and coats and stuff, that’s not awesome.”
According to Director of Capital Planning & Projects (CPP) Delano Palmer, the current heating issues are isolated to the exterior perimeters of the east and north sides of the building where radiators are responsible for providing much of the heating. The library has supplemental heating located on the north side of the building to offset the issue as much as possible.
“Our Facilities Maintenance Department (FMD) has performed several minor modifications to extend the life of systems, but eventually like most mechanical systems they reach a point in which replacement is necessary,” Palmer said. “The Capital Planning team began a first phase Library Energy Efficiency upgrade project in July of 2023, which removed one of two failing coils improving a large portion of Library heating and general building pressurization while operating at higher efficiency. The first phase project was completed in fall of 2024 prior to the onset of winter weather.”
The upcoming plans include a second phase for the Energy Efficiency upgrades that will replace the second damaged coil. This is thanks to CCP being awarded a $956,000 Department of Commerce Grant in fall of 2024. The contracted partners are currently working on engineering for the Spring 2025 construction that is anticipated to be completed by June of this year.
“The preservation, remodel, and new construction of our campus building is how FMD and CPP live into the values and mission of the university,” Palmer said. ”Our work represents the physical manifestation and embodiment of a model learning community of equity and belonging. Our entire team takes great pride in making our campus beautiful and even through the struggles of aging facility we remain steadfast to address these needs to the best of our ability.”
Palmer also stated how Brooks Library is the second most visited building on campus by students and how it was conceptually considered for renovation as part of the North Academic Complex. However, budgetary issues eliminated that option as pandemic era construction inflation was highly prominent and problematic. The building has been a focal point of his tenure as Director of Capital Planning dating back to August of 2018.
There have been other improvements made over the past few years that include changes like replacing the carpet, a renovation of the music library located on the fourth floor northeast corner of the building and installing ten interior cameras to improve student and staff safety. Currently there is also a window treatment replacement project in the works as well to update the aging windows.
Dean of Libraries Sydney Thompson talked about the importance of these changes and looking out for the students. “We just try to make incremental changes as we can, as we have the funding,” Thompson said, “It’s all towards making the library feel like a space students want to be, where they are welcome and where they belong.”
Dell voiced his opinion on the other issues that are still going on in the building that he would like to see resolved. Even proposing the idea of tearing down the building like we have seen recently with the Language & Literature building.
“I think it would be awesome if they actually give us a new building at some point. They built all these buildings at the same time, and they’re tearing down all the buildings except for ours. They built them all to last about 50 years, and it’s been here about that amount of time. The heating is a symptom of the fact we need a new building.” Dell said.
A Project total of $3.8 million has been invested exclusively to Brooks Library over the last five years. With CPP making an emphasis on improvements to what should be an environment where students and staff can comfortably work on their academics.
