Fifty thousand rare books normally housed at UCLA’s
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library will find refuge on the
shelves of the UC Southern Regional Library Facility on the UCLA
campus while their regular residence is renovated this year.
The Clark Library, erected in 1926, was closed Oct. 1 in order
for a new heating and air conditioning system to be installed in
the underground stacks.
The renovation will allow for improved temperature and humidity
control in order to better preserve the library’s invaluable
collection.
The Clark Library is located in the historic West Adams district
near downtown Los Angeles, thirteen miles east of UCLA.
Holdings include the largest comprehensive wealth of Oscar
Wilde’s works in the world, a notable collection of 17th and
18th century English literature, and even a copy of
Shakespeare’s posthumously-published First Folio, a volume of
works worth $5 million according to the library’s Web
site.
Administered by the Department of 17th and 18th Century
Literature at UCLA, the library is UCLA’s oldest building. It
specializes in the literature of that era, and draws scholars from
around the world to its vast selection of rare editions.
Bruce Whiteman, head librarian of the Clark Library, explained
that old books need special temperature and humidity conditions in
order to be preserved, and that preservation of these volumes is a
prime concern of the library.
Whiteman said that the project will cost an estimated $1.3
million, which has been partially funded by a $500,000 grant from
the Ahmanson Foundation.
“We have a close working relationship with (the Ahmanson
Foundation). They help us in various ways to buy books and do other
things, such as this current project,” Whiteman said.
The library matched the grant with funds from its $22 million
endowment, dating back to the original gift of the library to UCLA
by William Andrews Clark Jr. in memory of his father, according to
a press release.
Clark, a book collector and philanthropist, constructed the
library next to his home, and shortly after its completion he
announced his intent to donate the library, its collections and the
surrounding property to UCLA.
The university acquired the property after Clark’s death
in 1934.
The books will be temporarily housed at the SRLF, and will
remain there until the renovations are completed.
Scheduled reopening of the Clark Library is set for May 1,
2006.
Matthew Smith, deposits and stacks manager of SRLF, says that
the books will fit just fine in the facility.
SRLF currently houses over 150 miles of shelved books, and they
aren’t worried about filling to capacity for another five
years.
Workers and students at SRLF are helping the Clark Library staff
pack up the books in order to transport them by truck to the
facility.
Packing will continue throughout the coming weeks.
Even with the temporary closure of the book stacks, the Clark
Library will be far from vacant.
The Wilde and English literature collections are being packed
up, but collections not located in the underground stacks, such as
the fine printing and typography books, will not leave the
library.
Annual scholarly conferences held on site will continue as
scheduled.
Not all books being transported to SRLF will be available to all
UCLA students. Only scholars and fellows with special arrangements
may be able to access certain volumes.
Regularly circulated books are available, but access to the
specially housed collections will be limited for the next six
months.
After the renovations are complete, the books will be
transported back to their original home, and will be available for
students and any others interested to peruse and study.
The renovations are worth the wait, since the preservation of
the books is a hefty concern, Smith said.
“It was (an) imperative responsibility,” Smith
said.
“The Clark library is a special collection. It is an
amazing collection. Everything is invaluable.”