Salem State Library

Library & Learning Commons

The planning stage of the library process is nearing completion, and a site on North Campus has been identified. The site is behind the closed library building between Peabody Hall and the Ellison Campus Center. Considerations that determined the location of the future library facility include the relationships to academic programs and liberal arts core, student life and residence hall programs, and freshmen residence halls; accessibility for pedestrian, vehicular, and handicap; geotechnical conditions and utilities issues; and impacts on project cost and time, on campus operations during construction, and on neighbors during construction and when in operation.

The next phase of the process is the design of the building, which will proceed as determined by the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM).  DCAM has scheduled soil borings behind the old library to determine subsurface conditions at the proposed new library site. They will commence May 18th and take about two weeks.

The old library building will be demolished prior to construction of the new facility.  A demolition plan is in the planning process as well. At this stage, a timeline has not been determined.