Special Collections Research Center

Update: Mansueto Library Construction

Construction crews at the Mansueto Library continue work on both the ground and basement levels. Here are some photos from November 5 highlighting the latest progress.

 

 

 

 

Just in case there might be any question as to what this will be,
it is clearly marked as a “hole,” located within our ground level
space where the automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) will deliver large racks containing boxes of archival materials.

 

 

 

 

 

The site of the future work station where the ASRS will deliver the bins containing rare book materials, which will then be retrieved by staff members and delivered to patrons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A midday view looking southeast  
through the Mansueto dome. 

 

  An aisle of ASRS racks on the basement level.
The robotic crane at the end of the aisle will retrieve materials stored in the racks and deliver them to the ground floor

 

 

 

Workers assembling   
an ASRS rack prior   
to installation.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Collections Closed Wednesday, December 13, 2010

As previous images on our blog indicate, the renovation work within the Special Collections Research Center continues to progress. Work relating to this construction will affect our reading room and necessitate our being closed to the public on Monday, December 13.

We regret any inconvenience this closure may cause to our readers. We will resume our normal hours on Tuesday, December 14.

Special Collections on the Pathway

After construction, Special Collections and the new Exhibition Gallery will be located on the pathway to the Mansueto Library with dramatic visibility and maximum accessibility. A series of 13 printer's marks will be mounted on the wall opposite the entrances.

 The striking new exhibition gallery, with state-of-the art lighting and environmental control, will provide maximum flexibility for engaging students and faculty in organizing exhibitions. Display cases in varying shapes and sizes will allow for the display of a wide variety of formats and materials.

The lead silhouettes of printer's marks were received with the gift of the R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company Archive to the University. The trademarks, representing influential printers, publishers, typographers and designers from the 15th through the 20th century, were originally installed in RR Donnelley's 1929 Calumet Plant on East Cermak. They were most likely produced at the D'Ascenzo Studios in Philadelphia along with other ornamental glass for the building.

Construction Photos, September 27

Photo showing the new gallery (left of pillar) and the new front door to our research and teaching areas (right of pillar) (September 27, 2010).

Photo showing another view of the new front door to our research and teaching areas (September 27, 2010).

Construction Photos, September 16-17

 

The wall separating the new gallery from the reference and reception space (September 16, 2010).

Future home of the Ludwig Rosenberger Library of Judaica (September 17, 2010).

Future site of SCRC's visitor locker room (September 17, 2010).

SCRC to close September 15-17

The Special Collections Research Center will be closed to the public Wednesday, September 15 through Friday, September 17. It will re-open to the public on Monday, September 20.

Demolition and construction work will take place in our temporary reading room during this time.

We apologize for the inconvenience this closure might cause. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

Construction Photos, August 27-30, 2010

A view of the former Book Sale Room - the rubble denotes the former wall that divided our gallery from the Book Sale Room (August 27, 2010).

A view of the new corridor to the Mansueto Library (August 30, 2010).

Construction Photos, August 23-24, 2010

During the renovation of the Special Collections Research Center, we'll post occasional photos of our progress! For more information about our renovation, please see a message from our director, Alice Schreyer.

Thanks to Patti Gibbons, Preservation Manager, for the photos!

The ceiling above our reference area (August 23, 2010).

 

Dismantling the exhibition gallery (August 24, 2010).

The reference librarian's office (August 24, 2010).