To Close, or Not to Close – that is the Question

In September 2016, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut, United States) officially completed an 18-month renovation project, which replaced the building’s HVAC system, upgraded lighting and removed asbestos in stacks areas, and doubled the building’s classroom space. The library remained open to the public during most of the renovation, and provided access to all but a small portion of its collections, thanks to a combination of careful scheduling with researchers, off-site storage, and shifting materials within the building in coordination with the construction schedule. Using the Beinecke renovation as a case study, Ms. Hatcher and Ms. Sciarini will address planning for a move, provision of access during construction, and “recovery” after project is completed.