Even though Booth Library’s atrium was planned to be the last project completed in the now open facility, the final obstacle to overcome is the south entrance, an undertaking that reportedly delayed Booth’s original opening this semester.

Carol Strode, interim director of facilities planning and management, said Wednesday that workers are still awaiting the delivery of the south entrance stairs by the manufacturing company in order to complete the staircase.

Until the stairs arrive, Strode said workers are finishing up all the wood work that needs to be done to the entrance as well as all other projects that can be done that are not dependent on the installation of the staircase.

A month ago Strode said the stairs were to have been delivered on Feb. 18 and they were awaiting a delivery on Feb. 25, an arrival that never materialized.

Strode also said at the time that workers were installing “as much wood trim as they can” to the entrance; however, some work is dependent on the staircase being in place.

A reason for the delays has not been identified and Strode did not know the name of the manufacturing company that is delivering the steps.

The library was originally delayed from its opening date of Jan. 7 because of a “contractual change delay” in the design of the south entrance.

Once the delay was identified, workers projected six to eight weeks for the completion of the entrance.

Two months later, workers continue to work on the wood trimming and staining in the south entrance and await the manufacturing company to deliver the steps.

In addition to the south entrance, the atrium is awaiting a window which was supposed to be delivered on March 8.

The window is now scheduled to be delivered Friday but no date has been identified for its completion, Allen Lanham, dean of Library Services, said Wednesday.

“We would like it to be finished,” he said. “But that is not within our power.”

All the contracts and funding for the $21 million dollar Booth Library expansion and renovation project are handled by the State’s Capital Development Board.

As for the reasons for the delays of the atrium window, Lanham said the manufacturing has not disclosed any.

“I imagine the problem is in the manufacturing,” he said.

“Something happened and we didn’t get to go first.”

The window will mark the last project for the atrium, and other projects such as carpet, painting and lighting have been completed, Lanham said.

Lanham also added the last delivery for shelves for the fourth floor media center and for utility shelving to “dress up the desks a bit,” is scheduled for April 5, and will be installed in time for the grand opening on April 18.

Booth Library opened to the public after over 30 months of construction and renovation on Feb. 14, with the atrium closed off and the half of the north entrance still under construction.

The north entrance area was completed over spring break, and the general contractor’s trailer unit was removed for full access to the entrance.