Library Special Collections Reopens June 1

Following nearly a year of critical infrastructure work, the Ahmanson-Murphy Reading Room, located in the Charles E. Young Research Library, reopened to researchers on Wednesday, June 1. Faculty, students, and other researchers are welcome to drop in during open hours to consult UCLA Library Special Collections materials, no appointments necessary. The Biomedical Special Collections public service point was permanently relocated to the Ahmanson-Murphy Reading Room to create a centralized service point for Library Special Collections.
 

Researchers will notice a couple of changes when visiting Library Special Collections. During the closure, adjustable height tables were installed in the Reading Room and seating was expanded by two, for a total of 14 seats. The Library also made a modification that is expected to expedite the research process – rather than pulling folders from boxes stationed at the front of the room, researchers will now have access to a cart of paged materials at individual workstations.

The critical infrastructure work, which began in July 2021, included the installation of a new energy efficient humidity control system on the A Level of the Young Research Library. This work will help safeguard UCLA Library’s world-class collection of archives, rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and other rare and unique materials for the Bruin community and future generations.