Trowbridge Reference Room undergoing renovation

Announcement by YDS Dean Greg Sterling, December 5, 2016

I am writing to let you know about a renovation project that will affect our library. The Trowbridge Reference Room in the Divinity Library is one of the great spaces in the Sterling Divinity Quadrangle, exceeded in beauty by only the Day Missions Room and Marquand Chapel. Unfortunately, its stately character has deteriorated over the years to the point where its décor no longer adequately reflects the Room’s purpose and potential. I am pleased to report that over the winter break and in the first part of the spring semester the Trowbridge Reference Room will be refurbished with new light fixtures, furniture, carpet, and paint. We want to restore it to the classic library look that is characteristic of the Yale library system. The project will be funded primarily by our building fund that we are required to keep for such purposes and only for capital projects.

During the renovation the entire reference collection will be readily accessible. The core of the reference collection, the library computers, the printer, and study spaces will remain in Trowbridge at least through December 7th, the last day of classes, or this Wednesday. So will Suzanne Estelle-Holmer, Associate Director of Collections, Research, and Access!

A number of books have already been moved to the open stacks on the ground floor of the Divinity Library across from the microform readers. If a book is not in Trowbridge it will be downstairs. (The only exceptions are the rarely used denominational directories that were on the high shelves in Trowbridge. They are behind the Circulation Desk.) Library staff members are happy to answer any questions or address any concerns.

We hope to have the renovation completed by March 1st, 2017, although the completion date is not yet firmly set. Thank you for your patience as we restore one of the real gems on our campus. We hope that you will find the space to be warmer and more welcoming when it reopens.

We will have a ceremony to reopen it officially, but I do want to express deep appreciation to Steve Crocco, the YDS librarian, and Sandy Lynch, the Director of Finances and Operations, for their dedicated work on the project. We will invite all who had a hand in it to the reopening ceremony.
 

December 6, 2016