From the Folger
The story I wish to tell is one of logistical wizardry, dedication, physical
labor and wonderful cooperation between the librarians of Amherst College and
the staff of the Folger. The Folger is about to embark on its own “Big
Dig,” and we have only six months to complete it.
Many of you may know that the Folger’s rare books collection is housed
in a two-story underground vault beneath the new reading room and extending to
the edge of the Folger’s property line. The vault was designed with a dual-membrane
waterproofing system that was supposed to protect our books forever. But in August
2002, we discovered seeping cracks in a number of walls and the horrifying sight
of standing water in an aisle surrounded by rare volumes. The collection was
in danger. We immediately commissioned an engineering survey, which found that
the water seemed to be coming in from the sides of the vault. Full repair would
require a complete excavation and re-waterproofing of
interior and exterior walls. Because we could stage such an excavation only on
adjacent property, we sought permission from the Library of Congress to dig the
alley that separates their property from ours. By the time this column appears,
construction will be well underway.
What does a library do with thousands of books while such an extensive repair
takes place? Early in the process
we resolved not to shut down library operations (as our sister institution, the
Morgan Library in New York, has done), and to keep our collection available to
the scholars whose research depends on access to our rare materials. We needed
off-site storage for low-use items. Will Bridegam, librarian of the college,
immediately offered free storage in the Five College bunker on the outskirts
of Amherst. Led by Folger Librarian Richard Kuhta, staff identified 30,000 low-use
items, then packed and trucked almost 1,000 bar-coded boxes to the bunker. Folger
staff and Frost Library staff met the boxes as they arrived from Washington and
orchestrated safe storage.
For the 256,000 books remaining on-site at the Folger, the only way to proceed
was by halves—that is, to empty half the vault and allow work to begin
there. Once half of the exterior and interior has been re-waterproofed, we will
move the books to the newly repaired section and finish up the second half, all
the time keeping this priceless collection out
of harm’s way behind a dust-free barrier to be built in the middle of the
vault. Fifteen thousand books were moved to a newly created stack space on the
third floor; the rest were compressed gently on shelves usually filled (in keeping
with good library practice) to only 75 percent of capacity. We used every available
and secure space in this historic building.
All of these books will have to be moved several times before the vault repair
and waterproofing are completed. The books packed and sent to Amherst will be
unpacked and re-shelved on their return. When we are finished, we will have accomplished
a staggering total of 657,000 separate “handlings.” The work has
been shared between professional book movers and dedicated Folger staff: climbing
up tall ladders, turning and twisting to wrest large auction catalogues off tall
shelves, becoming covered with the “red rust” that flakes off old
leather periodical bindings and toting flat files hither and yon. They have worked
during lunch hours, after hours and on weekends, moving thousands of over-size
and often delicate volumes one at a time.
The enormity of what has been accomplished can be conveyed only partly through
numbers and narrative, for
more than anything it is a story of remarkable teamwork. Only by seeing totally
empty space where once were endless shelves of books can one realize what Folger
staff members have carried out, moved by a formidable esprit de corps, by a sense
of urgency and by love for this great library. I am enormously proud of this
staff, even as I know that rough days are ahead. The noise and dirt of construction
are inimical to the quiet work of a library, even one as lively as ours. We will
count on the patience of our staff and the loyalty of our scholars, who (wearing
earplugs all the while) must be grateful that we decided to keep the reading
rooms open as we make the Folger rare-book vault safe—this time forever.
—Gail
Kern Paster
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