Students looking to grab a bite to eat at the library will have to continue resorting to the vending machines until at least after Thanksgiving.
The opening of Bookmark Caf+â-¬ has been postponed due to a delay in the delivery of food carts.
Bookmark Caf+â-¬ is a caf+â-¬-style dining option that will be available in Bracken Library. Originally scheduled to open on Sept. 5, the opening was first postponed until Tuesday, then until Sept. 29 and now until after Thanksgiving Break.
Representatives from Dining Services and the Purchasing department met with the project architect, Susan Johnson, on Friday and determined that the caf+â-¬ would definitely not be ready to open at least through September, Liz Poore, residence hall dining service assistant director of operations, said. The plan is to have the caf+â-¬ open as soon as possible, but she said she definitely plans to have it open before Christmas Break.
Poore said equipment delivery, specifically a delay in the delivery of food carts, is the main hold up in preparations. The carts were supposed to be delivered on Aug. 15, but the Colorado manufacturer postponed delivery multiple times, she said. When they spoke last week the manufacturer did not give a specific date for delivery.
"We are continuing with other preparations," Poore said. "Most of the other furniture has arrived. We have refrigeration, but that can't be hooked up until the carts arrive."
Employee training is also delayed until the carts are set up. Several of the student worker positions are filled, Poore said, but those students will continue working at other dining locations until the caf+â-¬ opens. Additional positions will be filled when the caf+â-¬ opens.
"We won't be spending more money as a result of the delays," Poore said. "It's just the disappointment of having subcontractors not meet deadline. We all want to get the project back on track because right now we are definitely off track."
Arthur Hafner, dean of university libraries, said he looked forward to the caf+â-¬ opening and being a gathering place for students. He said he hoped it would increase students' use of the library.
"I don't know much about the delay except for an e-mail I got Sept. 8 from Elizabeth Poore informing staff that the Caf+â-¬ opening is delayed," Hafner said. "I am very disappointed that it won't open sooner."
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