Fences, delays, book moves and McAfee Gym – words we no longer will associate with Booth Library.

At 8 a.m. the library opens for the first time in more than 30 months, bringing a $21 million renovation and expansion close to completion and temporary library locations such as the one in McAfee Gym close to extinction.

“It’s come a long way,” interim President Lou Hencken said Wednesday. “I think students, faculty and staff will be pleased when they see it. It’s a beautiful facility.”

A ceremonial book move will be held at 1:15 p.m. with three representatives from each of the university senates and members of the administration gathering in McAfee to walk books to Booth.

The move will be followed by a ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m. in the north foyer of the Booth and the library will remain open until 11:45 p.m., said Allen Lanham, dean of Library Services.

Hencken said it took a lot of people working alongside one another to open a facility of Booth’s magnitude, but it the end “everyone comes together and sure enough we open it.”

“I think it says a lot about the fact the IBHE and state legislators would give us the money,” he said.

Originally, the library was scheduled to open its south entrance on Jan. 7, the first day of the spring semester. However, a change in the south entrance’s stairwell pushed that date back 38 days.

The delay meant library patrons would have to continue to use temporary locations in McAfee, the Gregg Triad and Booth West, otherwise known as the former IGA building on Lincoln Avenue.

Additionally, the university had to wait until Booth’s north entrance was ready to open the builiing’s doors.

While the north doors may be ready to open, Booth is not yet entirely complete. Hencken said a grand opening will be held when the library complete sometime in April.

“Things we might not (have) thought (would) get finished, got finished,” Lanham said. “We hope a lot of people come.”

Lanham said there are still “changes and touch-ups” left to be completed in the library, leaving some areas closed to the public until completed.

Those facilities include the university archives and special collections service desk, the first level of the atrium, stairs to the fourth floor, books stacks P through PS on the first floor, periodicals and a seminar room and group study room on the third floor.

“I ask for patience from students, faculty and staff because there are little things we’re still working on,” Hencken said.

All other service desks will be open and color maps and guides are spread throughout the library to help students find what they need, Lanham said.

“If you need help, always ask a service desk,” he said. “We will give it our best.”