FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 26, 2005

Contact: Shirley Melikian Armbruster

559.278.5292 or 593.1815

Fresno State President John D. Welty got his first look Wednesday at the warehouse holding 900,000 volumes from the Madden Library during a $91-million redevelopment and expansion project.

Library Dean Michael Gorman escorted Dr. Welty through the 80,000-square-foot warehouse in south Fresno that will be home to the books during the three-year library project.

The older sections of the library on the north side of the building will be demolished next year and a new structure built in their “footprint.” The four-story South Wing of the library, which was built in 1980, will be retained and eventually connected to the new structure.

The new library will be the most technologically advanced university library in the state when it is completed in summer 2008.