The Berenson Library inaugurated a new consultation area for all Special Collections materials with the opening of the renovated Ahmanson Reading Room on September 15.
After extensive work over the summer, the Ahmanson Reading Room, located on the ground floor of the Fototeca building, re-opened with a new look and with entirely new functions.This room was previously dedicated exclusively to the consultation and storage of images held by the Photograph Archive. The newly renovated space accommodates additional shelving for both the photograph collection and part of our historical archival collections, in improved conservation conditions, as well as a spacious, well-lighted area for the supervised consultation of all of the Berenson Library's Special Collections. Here patrons will consult the library's valuable, rare, and unique materials of all sorts, in addition to items with special handling requirements, including rare books, photographs and photo albums, archival and manuscript collections, early auction catalogs, microforms, maps, CD-ROMS, and DVDs. The re-configured space will better enable library users to reference many of the library's unique or distinctive resources, while simultaneously addressing current standards for the care and handling of special collections.
Along with the new reading room we have introduced updated policies. Please review the library's policies and guidelines for consulting and handling Special Collections Materials.
