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University of Chicago to Get $42-Million Library ExpansionThe University of Chicago is planning a $42-million, 40,000-square-foot expansion of its Regenstein Library, a project that will allow the facility to house 8 million volumes and make it the largest research library under a single roof in North America, university officials say.To be completed in June 2009, the project will provide expanded space for both print and digital collections, as well as improved preservation facilities, better book-tracking technology, and more classroom space, the Chicago Tribune reported June 5. Although a section of the existing building will be turned into an information commons devoted to digital learning, faculty on the planning committee stressed that keeping the print collection accessible for browsing by faculty and students is also a high priority. “The chance of seeing what the next volume is, or running your eyes idly over the spines, opening the pages and falling upon something is memorable, pleasurable, instructive, and frequently decisive in the way you work,” said Neil Harris, a committee member. At a time when many libraries are shifting to off-site storage facilities and electronic journals, Library Director Judith Nadler said, “First and foremost [the plan] gives us the ability to rethink the library in ways in which if we had to go offsite [to store books] we could not rethink.” The original facility, designed by Walter Netsch, opened in 1970. Posted June 10, 2005. |
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