Project News

The Evans Public Library in Vandalia, Illinois, celebrated its Grand Opening on August 19, 2024. The Library moved to a new building and location.

More than half of the shelving from the former Undergraduate Library building went to the Evans Public Library for their new building. The facility is more than twice the size of the previous location and will allow Evans Public Library to expand its programs and services.

The Evans Public Library received the shelving through a family connection. A former Vandalia resident contacted his father to let him know some shelving was being replaced and asked if the Library could use some in their new building.

“We agreed as it would help us with our limited new furniture budget,” said Library Director Jessica Blain. “We are so thankful that he thought of us. The shelving has worked out great! We ordered wooden end caps that matched our existing shelving.”

From July 18 – 24, the Urbana Fire Department performed training within the former Undergraduate Library building. As demolition of the building continues and before major construction begins, the University Library was presented with a unique opportunity to support first responder training. This training included large area search training, forcible entry training, the use of various cutting tools in materials like steel and wood, as well as hose training within stairwells.  There was no damage caused to the building due to the training. Such training ensures that local first responders can handle any emergency and helps keep the community and university safe.

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the Undergraduate Library at its May 18 meeting. The building’s new name is officially Archives and Special Collections which better reflects the building’s new purpose—to house the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections, and the University Archives.

From the May 18 BOT minutes:

The Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Vice President, University of Illinois System, with the concurrence of the appropriate administrative officers, recommends approving a proposal from the University Library to rename the Undergraduate Library as the Archives and Special Collections.

The University Library’s rare and archival collections are an extraordinary university asset. Currently, the campus’ special collections are scattered throughout campus, with resources residing in the Main Library, the Horticulture Field Laboratory, the Oak Street Library Facility, and other sites. In 2009, the University Library completed a master plan that proposed transforming the Undergraduate Library into an archives and special collections facility. In 2019, the Library moved from a broader conceptual design to specific planning to use the Undergraduate Library as a dedicated home for rare and archival collections. In 2022, the Board approved the project budget and design for the related capital construction project. The plans will create a new home to house the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections, and the University Archives. The proposed renaming will better reflect the building’s new purpose. This facility will foster engagement with resources that transcend disciplinary boundaries, leverage access to enduring historical collections, and provide a service environment that is conducive to expanded services while also showcasing the unique collections held by the University.

The Board action recommended in this item complies in all material respects with applicable State and federal laws, University of Illinois Statutes, The General Rules Concerning University Organization and Procedure, and Board of Trustees policies and directives.

No funding is required for this action.

The President of the University of Illinois System concurs.