Updated - 5/11/06
University administrators are planning to reopen Zimmerman Library to the public sometime in June. The ground floor, second and third levels will all be opened while cleaning and repair of the basement level is underway.
Photo: Cleanup work is underway at Zimmerman Library where a fire broke out in the basement Sunday, April 30.
Students attending summer school should have some access to Zimmerman for most of the term if everything goes as planned. The summer school term begins on June 5th.
Physical Plant administrators say a 7500-square foot area of the upper basement level on the eastern side of the building was completely destroyed.
During the next few weeks the damaged area will be cleared, the books removed and sent to Texas for cleaning, and the furniture removed and stored.
Reconstruction will begin as quickly as possible and administrators hope to reopen the basement periodical section to the public sometime this fall. Administrators believe insurance will cover the remodeling of the basement and rebuilding the periodical collections that were destroyed in the fire.
Tables of Content
University Libraries Tables of Content Event scheduled for May 20th has been cancelled. Zimmerman Library, where the event is held, will be closed until further notice. University Libraries hopes to re-schedule the event for early fall.
Book Returns
Students who need to return books may take them to Centennial and Parish Libraries. If students need books or reserve materials that were on reserve at Zimmerman Library, they should check elibros online to see whether the materials have been relocated to Centennial Library. Extended hours for other campus libraries are available at: http://elibrary.unm.edu/.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Zimmerman? How much damage is there? What started the fire? Why are the windows broken? When can we get into Zimmerman?
There was a fire in Zimmerman's periodical area on Basement Level 1 on Sunday night, April 30. At this time the incident is still under investigation and the extent of the damage is being assessed. Because there is an ongoing investigationand for safety reasons, only limited access by some of the library staff is expected for several weeks.
Clean-up of Zimmerman's first, second and third floors has begun and is expected to continue through mid to late June. Each book and shelf must be dry wiped. All ceiling tiles are being replaced and all the walls cleaned. Materials from Zimmerman's second and third floors are available for paging and other Zimmerman services have been relocated to the other library branches until Zimmerman reopens. Zimmerman Reference has a table in the north end of the SUB.
Zimmerman's Basement Level 1 sustained severe damage in some areas. All the materials in the east end will be evaluated and removed for cleaning in Texas. Carpeting, shelving and furniture will be removed and cleaned or replaced. The area will be closed until the rennovation is completed sometime in the fall.
What about the Center for Southwest Research?
The CSWR collections were not damaged by the Zimmerman fire but are currently unavailable. These collections are not eligible to be paged at this time.
When can I get into my carrel?
Students and faculty who have personal effects in Zimmerman Library should contact Campus Police at 277-1919 or stop by Campus Police Office in Hokona Hall. They will be asked to provide an ID and description of their belongings.
When and where can we check out Zimmerman books?
We have implemented a book retrieval (paging) system for materials on the Zimmerman’s second and third floor. Materials in the other parts of the library will not be available for several weeks. This service is available only to UNM faculty, students and staff.
To use the paging system:
Do a search in LIBROS to find the materials you want. Check the STATUS (to the right of the call number) to see if the material is available to be paged. Those with “May be Paged” or “In Transit” requested using the linked form in the LOCATION area (to the left of the call number). Material that shows a “DUE” date in the status field will be recalled as usual. Material that is not available will have “Unavailable” as a status.
Click on the “Zimmerman – Click to Page” link under LOCATION (to the left of the call number) which will launch a new window with the paging form in it. Follow the directions on the form and send it off to us.
Forms that are received by 9am each morning will be filled by that afternoon if the material is found to be available. You will be notified by email as soon as the material is ready to be picked up at Parish Library. If we are unable to find the material , you will be able to request the title through Interlibrary Loan.
When and where can we get to Zimmerman microfilm?
The microfilm and microfiche are part of the collection that will not be available for a while. Please ask at one of the reference desks (CSEL, FAL, Parish or Zimmerman Reference in the SUB) to find out about possible alternatives.
I need manuscript material from the Center. How do I get it?
Materials from the CSWR are unavailable at this time. As more information is available it will be posted on the University Libraries website.
Where are the employees who work in Zimmerman?
At the beginning of the week most of the employees were on administrative leave while the initial assessment of the situation was made. As the week has progressed, employees have been called in to cover a reference desk at the SUB, staff information desks outside Zimmerman, or establish new work areas in the other three branches of the University Libraries to make sure services are disrupted as little as possible. Employees who have computers at home and whose job duties will allow that flexibility are working from home.
Information about where individuals employees are located will be available at the reference desks at the open branches - CSEL, Fine Arts and Parish.
Zimmerman services that are moved to other service points include:
Interlibray Loan (ILL) - at CSEL. Materials will be picked up at the CSEL Circulation Desk.
Requests are still made through the ILL webpage off the University Libraries website.
Zimmerman Reserves - at CSEL
Zimmerman materials paged – will be picked up at Parish.
Where is CAPS?
CAPS closed for the semester at 2:00pm on Friday, 5/5.
Caps is being relocated outside the library. Details will be posted on their website as they become available.
What is the phone number for CAPS? Reference? Circulation?
All Zimmerman Reference calls are being forwarded to the Reference Desk at CSEL – 277-4412. CSWR Reference - 277-6451.
Zimmerman Circulation calls are being forwarded to Circulation at Parish – 277-5912.
No phone number for CAPS at this time.
What number can I call to renew my books?
Books can be renewed online from the main LIBROS page using the link for ‘Renew your materials,” or you can call the branch circulation desks - Fine Arts:277-2357; CSEL: 277-4858; Parish: 277-5912.
Where can I read the Albuquerque Tribune or the other daily newspapers?
The Albuquerque Journal and the Wall Street Journal are available at Parish. The Albuquerque Journal is also available at the Fine Arts Library. The Albuquerque Tribune and the New York Times should be available at Parish soon. Links to electronic copies of these titles and many others are available to UNM NetID holders through Journal One Search.
Where do I return books?
Books may be returned at any of the open branches CSEL, FAL, or Parish.
What do I do if my book is recalled?
Return the book to any of the open branches – CSEL, FAL, or Parish.
Where do I pick up the Zimmerman books I've asked to be recalled?
You'll be notified when they are available for pickup at Parish.
Where do I return ILL books? Will my ILL orders be filled? Where do I pick them up?
Books may be returned at any of the open branches – CSEL, FAL, or Parish. ILL has moved to CSEL and has begun to process requests again from the ILL webpage. Materials that have been received are at the CSEL Circulation desk for pick up. You’ll be notified when new requests have been received and are ready to be picked up at the CSEL Circulation desk.
Can I check out Zimmerman reserves?
Zimmerman reserve books have been relocated to CSEL. Only a few of the paper document files were moved. This move is for hard-copy materials. Check LIBROS for availability. E-reserves continue to be accessible in the usual way.
Can we put books on reserve at any of the other libraries? How about e-reserve materials?
Yes, books may be put on reserve at any of the branches. E-reserve materials may also be turned in at any branch for processing. There may be delays associated with the closure of ZIMM and instructors should be encouraged to contact the reserve desks at the branches to determine wait times and availability of materials.
Where are there computers and printers available?
In addition to the computers and printers available in the open library branches (Fine Arts, CSEL, and Parish), CIRT is extending hours at LoboLab, Dane Smith Hall Pod and ESC Pod from May 3 to May 12 to help meet computing demands due to the closure of Zimmerman Library.
LoboLab will be open until Midnight, through Friday, May 12.
Dane Smith Hall Pod will be open until Midnight, May 8 through Friday, May 12.
ESC Pod will be open until Midnight, through Friday, May 12
CIRT Support Center 505.277.4848
Media Contacts: Susan McKinsey, (505) 277-1989; e-mail: mckinsey@unm.edu or Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu