RECEIVING NEW READING ROOM

Changes are coming to the John Martin Rare Book Room (JMRBR) in the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences that will provide researchers with more access to books and space for hosting classes and events.

A new, separate reading room will be constructed in the area just outside of the current JMRBR as part of a larger project to renovate the fourth floor of the library. The current JMRBR will be converted to a shelving space, helping to maintain the security and preservation of all JMRBR materials. The project is expected to begin in June 2023, with completion anticipated during spring 2024.

The IISICCA brings together UI faculty, staff, and researchers from the UI Libraries; Center for the Book; College of Engineering; departments of Art History, Classics, History, Religious Studies; Iowa Institute for Biomedical Imaging; Small Animal Imaging Core; the Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence; and the Stanley Museum of Art. Iowa has hosted two international conferences on closely related topics regarding manuscripts: the 2016-18 Mellon-Sawyer seminar and the 2020 "More Than Meets the Eye" Conference.

Additional work on the fourth floor as part of the larger area remodel project is moving forward, with muchneeded updates being made to individual studies as well as the open study areas. To accommodate the change, print books published before 2010 have been moved to the Library Annex, where they can be easily and quickly retrieved.

The fourth-floor improvements are made possible by a generous grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. The JMRBR improvements are made possible with support from the Friends of the UI Libraries.

Hardin Library is also undergoing a refresh in other areas, and remodeled restrooms are available on the third and fourth floors of the building near the elevators. In addition, work has started on the 24-hour study rooms and progress is being made on the first- and second-floor restrooms.