FINALS EDITION THURSDAY May 6, 2021
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 150 Issue 54
LONGFORM
JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI
UI library to undergo long overdue renovations Undergraduate Library set to close January 2022 for conversion
BY WILLIE CUI ASSISTANT DATYTIME NEWS EDITOR
Sitting between the Armory and the largely subterranean Undergraduate Library is the Main Library. Despite not being the most eye-catching building on campus, the historic Main Library, constructed in the 1920’s, housed one of the University’s most prized assets: its collections of rare books and manuscripts — one of the largest in the world. Yet, the vault that houses
the University’s Rare Book and Manuscript Library “is at the end of its useful life,” according to John Wilkin, dean of Libraries and University librarian. It’s no secret that the Main Library is in need of renovation. Problems with the Main Library’s bookstacks, such as issues with fire safety and the preservation of library materials, have been the subject of discussion among library staff for decades.
CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI
The Main Library sits quietly at 1408 W. Gregory Drive in Urbana, Illinois on Wednesday morning. The historic Main Library is set to undergo much needed renovations.
“Some folks may feel that the space in the Main Library is conducive to study or not conducive to study, but one fact remains — those stacks ranges are a danger to the collection,” Wilkin said. “They need to be replaced.” Since 2018, the University Library (the entity responsible for the various libraries on campus) has been working on a plan to renovate the Main Library and convert the Undergraduate Library into a dedicated facility for the University’s collection of rare books and manuscripts. However, throughout the planning process, members of the humanities faculty and University Library administrators have been at odds over the renovation plans. Concerns were raised by faculty regarding the location of UGL services during the years-long renovation period as well as potential flooding issues with the UGL. Additionally, faculty members have expressed frustration at the University Library’s lack of transparency regarding the renovation plans, as well as what they see as half-hearted attempts at seeking input. Attempting to address this,
Ralph Mathisen, professor in LAS and newly-elected chair of the University Senate Library Committee, proposed a resolution in April to delay the UGL conversion and establish a committee to assess the needs of students, faculty and staff. Despite being co-sponsored by 11 faculty senators and having the support of 14 University department heads, the resolution was rejected.
Problems with the Main Library
Despite their differences, both the University Library and the faculty members agree that the Main Library is long overdue for renovation. “One of the things which everybody wanted and had been wanting for a very long time was to renovate the old stacks of the Main Library,” Mathisen said. The conditions in the bookstacks of the Main Library pose a fire hazard and accelerate the decay of library materials, according to Wilkin. “Susan Orlean’s book ‘The Library Book’ about the fire for the Los Angeles Public Library — the library burned down — the structure that she describes there is exactly
the same structure we have for stacks ranges one through five,” Wilkin said. “It’s a fire hazard and environmentally it’s accelerating the decay of those materials.” William Maher, University archivist and director of Archives for the University Library, noted that, due to the way the original stacks were built, fire can easily spread from one level of the stacks to another. “If you go into the first section of the stacks, you can actually look down and drop a piece of paper from one level to the next,” Maher said. “And as a result of that, any fire that would start at one level, would present a risk of transmitting
to other levels.” Moreover, he noted that conditions of the older stacks of the Main Library are not conducive to preserve library materials from deterioration. “If you’ve ever left a newspaper in your car for a week, especially in the summertime, by the time you go back to it’s yellow … that is because the paper contains wood pulp in it and when that interacts with atmospheric moisture and heat, it’ll start breaking down and acidify,” Maher said. “One of the best ways to globally stop that in its track is by storing material at lower temperatures and SEE LIBRARY | 3A
INSIDE
Features: Seniors perform final dance theses inspired by identity
Editorial: Recognize personal progression this finals season
PAGE 5A
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ATTENTION SENIORS Make senior year special and live at
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