Starting in spring 2019 and extending into 2020, Willis Library will undergo various renovations. Students, faculty, and community members curious about the changes can keep up with updates on the upgrades here.
If you have questions, please contact Mary Ann Venner, Associate Dean for Public Services or view our Campus Map for other library locations.
All Floors Now Open
All floors in Willis Library are accessible during the library’s hours of operation.
September 16, 2020
Lower Level Now Open
The Lower Level in Willis is now open. Our First Floor renovations continue as we install furniture, set up computers and printers, and our new Library Services Desk. Please check our Continuity of Library Services guide for updates on our services and spaces.
August 19, 2020
First Floor Renovations
Parts of the first floor will remain closed until the end of the summer. Access to the building, center stairwell, and elevators will be available. Although the Library Services Desk is not available on the first floor, we have service points on the first and second floors to provide assistance. Printer and scanner access is now available on the second floor.
May 12, 2020
Second Floor Reopening, Lower Level Closed
The second floor of Willis Library reopened on Monday, April 27. The Lower Level will remain closed until the end of May.
April 29, 2020
Second Floor Closure
Willis Library’s second floor is closed for renovations beginning Monday, March 9, 2020. The third floor will reopen on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
March 3, 2020
Third Floor Closure
Willis Library’s third floor is closed for renovations beginning Friday, February 7 through Wednesday, March 4. Materials may be requested using our Online Holds service. Requested materials can be picked up at the Willis Library Services Desk.
February 6, 2020
Third & Fourth Floor Closure Update
The Music Library Service Desk has reopened. Music books and periodicals are now accessible, however, the south side of the fourth floor remains closed until February 13.
UNT Special Collections and the Sarah T. Hughes Reading Room will reopen Monday, February 3.
The south side of the third floor is closed. The north side of the third floor will close Thursday, February 13.
Even though the collections in the closed areas are not accessible, items can be requested through our Online Holds service. Requested materials can be picked up at the Willis Library Services Desk.
January 31, 2020
Floor Closure Update
Fourth Floor - Part of the fourth floor will reopen on Thursday, January 30. The entire floor will reopen on Thursday, February 13.
Third Floor - Beginning Thursday, January 30, part of the third floor will be unavailable. The entire floor will close on Thursday, February 13.
During the closure of the third floor, patron access to the stacks will be unavailable. However, materials may be requested through our Online Holds service.
January 23, 2020
Fourth Floor Closure
Music Library - During the closure of the fourth floor, December 16, 2019, through January 24, 2020, we will provide circulation, access to reserves, and reference services from the Willis Library Services Desk on the first floor.
Special Collections - The Sarah T. Hughes Reading Room will be closed for renovations Monday, December 16, 2019, through January 24, 2020. Please contact Special Collections if you have any questions.
December 12, 2019
Power Outage
On Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2019, Willis Library will be closed for electrical power upgrades. This will impact the UNT Libraries website where the catalog and many of our online resources will not be available due to the work being done over the weekend. We hope to have all resources restored by Monday, December 16, 2019.
The fourth floor will be closed beginning Monday, December 16, 2019.
December 5, 2019
Upcoming Floor Closures
Due to the ongoing renovation of Willis Library, the fourth floor will be closed beginning December 16, 2019, through approximately January 24, 2020. The third floor is scheduled for tentative closure beginning January 20 through March 1, 2020.
While this work is taking place on the third and fourth floors, the stacks will not be available to the public. However, workflows are being created to retrieve materials and provide services during this time. Further information will be provided as details are made available.
November 13, 2019
Outages and Notices
Beginning Monday, October 14, there will be scheduled power outages to our air conditioning system in sections of Willis Library. These outages may affect the air climate in the building.
On Thursday, October 17, Willis Library will experience a two-hour water service outage from approximately 5:00 am - 7:00 am as part of the ongoing renovation and upgrade of the building’s mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems. All restroom facilities will be closed during this time, so plan accordingly!
Due to a scheduled power outage, Willis Library will be closed at the end of the fall semester from Friday, December 13, to Sunday, December 15.
October 10, 2019
Water Service Outage
Willis Library will experience a two-hour water service outage on Thursday, October 10, from approximately 5:00 am - 7:00 am as part of the ongoing renovation and upgrade of the building’s mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems. All restroom facilities will be closed during this time, so plan accordingly!
October 9, 2019
Willis Library Power Outage and Building Closure
Electrical changes are being made as part of the ongoing MEP building upgrades. In order for this work to be accomplished, Willis Library will be without power on Saturday, September 28, 2019, from 4:00 am – 10:00 am. All websites and web services will be unavailable during this period. In preparation for this outage, Willis Library will be closed from 1:00 am – 10:00 am on September 28.
The electrical closet work near the stairwells on each floor will be completed by October 4, 2019.
September 23, 2019
Willis First Floor Changes
Several changes are coming to the first floor. Walls will be removed from the southwest side of the floor. The front and side walls of the Willis Forum will also be removed. As a result, the first floor student printing stations have been moved to the left of the center stairwell.
There may be some noise throughout the building associated with the physical construction and this process may cause a level of disruption.
August 14, 2019
Overhead Conduit Installation - North Wall
The MEP team continues installing dust barriers on the second, third, and fourth floors of Willis Library. The barriers extend from the center electrical rooms to the north wall and branch to the mechanical closets at each end. Overhead conduit installation will begin on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, and is expected to be completed by Monday, August 8, 2019.
While this work is taking place on the third and fourth floors, several rows of stacks will not be readily available. If materials are needed from the third floor, please contact the Willis Library Services Desk. If materials are needed from the fourth floor, please contact the Music Library Service Desk.
July 31, 2019
The Study
The Libraries’ café, The Study, is closing Wednesday, July 31, 2019, at 5:00 pm. All retail items are reduced excluding the coffee bar and tea.
July 25, 2019
Overhead Conduit Installation - South Wall
The MEP team has started installing dust barriers on the second, third, and fourth floors of Willis Library. The barriers extend from the center electrical rooms to the south wall and branch to the mechanical closets at each end. Overhead conduit installation will begin on Monday, July 22, 2019, and is expected to take approximately one week.
While this work is taking place on the third and fourth floors, several rows of stacks will not be readily available. If materials are needed from the third floor, please contact the Willis Library Services Desk. If materials are needed from the fourth floor, please contact the Music Library Service Desk.
July 19, 2019
Sidewalk Closed
Due to excavation work on the west side of Willis Library, the sidewalk on the north side of Highland Street will be closed from the Music Building through the Library Mall entrance. The sidewalk is expected to be closed for approximately six weeks.
July 12, 2019
Highland Street Book Drop Closed
Due to the construction on the west side of Willis Library, the Highland Street book drop is closed until September. You may return your library books to the book drop on the north side of the entrance to Willis Library, the inside book drop on the first floor of Willis, or the Library Services Desk. If you have any questions please contact us at circ@unt.edu or (940) 565–2413.
The water fountains and restrooms in the northwest corner of the building on all floors are now available.
July 10, 2019
Highland Street Closure
The City of Denton will close the Crumley side of Highland Street on Monday, June 24, in order to install equipment needed to supply the fire control on the Lower Level.
On Tuesday, June 25, the city will cut across all of Highland Street to Willis. Due to this vehicle, access will be diverted from Avenue C through Avenue A.
On Wednesday, June 26, the city plans to patch the area. During the time the crews are on site, various lanes will not be available.
Work will continue on all floors building the center electrical rooms and electrical closets.
June 21, 2019
Physical Construction Begins
A new electrical room is being built in the center of each floor of the library. Four electrical closets are being constructed near the stairwells on each floor. A dust barrier has been placed around each area where the construction will take place. Please do not enter the areas that have been isolated with barriers.
There may be some noise throughout the building associated with the physical construction and this process may cause a level of disruption while it is taking place. Stairwells should be passable during this project, however, restrooms in the northwest corner of the building on all floors will be unavailable.
June 14, 2019
Loading Dock
Excavation of the loading dock area began today. For safety reasons, the back door has been locked from the outside. In the event of an emergency, please do not use the dock as an escape route. All other emergency exits will be available.
There may be some noise throughout the building associated with the excavation process. It is not expected to be for long periods of time or cause major disruptions.
During the initial excavation, the water fountains and restrooms in the northwest corner of the building on all floors will be unavailable. It is estimated that this will last approximately one week.
May 16, 2019
Willis Library Abatement and Shifting Materials
To prepare for the start of upgrade work in the building beginning June 1, abatement is taking place on each floor of Willis Library. We are also in the process of shifting materials on the 3rd and 4th floors. If assistance is needed in locating materials, please check with the staff at one of our service desks.
May 15, 2019
Highland Street Book Drop Temporarily Closed
Due to construction on Willis Library drainage, the south sidewalk will be closed for a few days beginning Thursday, March 28. All sidewalk traffic on the south side of Willis will need to cross Highland Street between the Business Leadership Building and Crumley Hall. During this process the Highland Street Book Drop will be inaccessible. Please visit one of our library locations to return library materials. Please note: The book drop reopened April 2nd.
March 28, 2019
Willis Library Hold Shelf Has Been Moved
The Willis Library First Floor Hold Pickup Shelf has been moved from the North wall to the right side of the Library Services Desk. As a result, the UNT Press Display has been removed from this location. All items from the UNT Press Display are shelved in the stacks according to their call numbers. You may search the Library Online Catalog to locate them.
March 22, 2019
MEP Project
The Mechanical, Electric, and Plumbing (MEP) project providing upgrades to the building has begun. The first phase of this project will impact the third floor due to the expansion of the mechanical room. You may experience some intermittent noise during this period. Peak times of the work will take place between 4 am – noon. When the third floor work has been completed, work will progress to the rest of the floors. Please note: Stairwells should be passable and restrooms accessible during this project.
March 20, 2019
Back Dock Removal
Due to the back dock removal, there may be intermittent noise throughout Willis Library during the duration of this project.
March 19, 2019
Library Departments Moving to the Lower Level of Willis Library
Beginning Friday, March 15, the offices of our librarians and staff in the Undergraduate Engagement & Research and the Research Support Services Department will be moving to our new space on the lower level of Willis Library, Room 080. We hope to be settled in the new space by Friday, March 29, 2019.
March 15, 2019
Restroom Remodel Project
As part of our ongoing library renovations, the Libraries recently remodeled one of the women’s restrooms located on the second floor of Willis Library.
March 14, 2019
