In November, I was hired by the Rubenstein Library as the Collections Move Coordinator. My job is to ensure that all the unique and inspiring Rubenstein Library collections transfer safely to our temporary space or the Library Service Center during the Rubenstein Library renovation.
We have gotten off to a running start in December and January by moving approximately 1,875 linear feet of manuscript material (or 2,260 boxes) to the Library Service Center. We also moved approximately 10,000 pamphlets. This seems like a lot, but we still have plenty to move, as there are 32,500 linear feet of space in our stacks.
As we moved our collections, we also removed the shelving from our stacks. The empty space has been transformed into a production area for move related prep work.
The Rubenstein Library’s goal is to have all collections moved either to our temporary space in Perkins Library or to the Library Service Center by the end of December 2012. Our staff is currently hard at work prepping our manuscript and archives collections for the move. We are also starting to turn our attention to print materials such as pamphlets and rare books and this work will increase in the coming months.
We are not planning any further large-scale moves of materials until Fall 2012. We are, however, shipping regular batches of pamphlets to the Library Service Center this spring and through the summer.
So what does all this mean to our researchers and the Duke Community that we serve? I’m glad you asked. We just published some information about how the public might be impacted by the move: http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/about/renovationfaq.html. The important thing to remember is to let us know when you are coming and what you are researching. Contact us now! We will be happy to assist you and we will do our best to have your materials waiting.
Post contributed by Molly Bragg, Rubenstein Library Move Coordinator!
You are doing a great job Molly! It’s going to be a long process, but the end result will be amazing.