Kansas University libraries are about to get a little less crowded.

Crews are working to construct a new warehouse on west campus to store some of KU’s lesser-used library materials. The move will free up space in Watson and Anschutz libraries for reading and meeting space for students.

“It’s reclaiming what had been public space,” said Stella Bentley, dean of libraries. “It’ll be a mixture of environments, whether it’s group study, individual study or sitting at a work station with productivity software. They can find the environment they’re looking for.”

The warehouse – officially called the Library Annex – will have 7,500 square feet of temperature- and humidity-controlled storage space, with 30- to 40-foot-tall shelves to hold up to 1.6 million volumes. The $5.6 million facility is being funded with tuition money.

Ground was broken on the building in May. It should be completed in spring 2006.

The warehouse will hold little-used volumes from KU’s 4 million piece collection, said Bill Myers, development director for the libraries. For example, he said, old scientific journals are rarely accessed.

“What will go there will be the least-used materials,” he said. “They tend to be the oldest things.”

He said most materials would be available within 24 hours for those requesting volumes in the warehouse.

Myers said the facility would be built larger than is immediately necessary in order to have room for expansion.

“It’ll take a number of years to fill up,” he said.