Architectural History of Sterling Memorial Library

Franke Family Digital Humanities Lab

Students studying in the Reserve Book Room

This space has had many lives and iterations since Sterling Memorial Library's first opening, and was originally the Reserve Book Room (RBR) where students could consult books on course reserve. The RBR was meant to be a counterpart to the Linonia & Brothers Room (L&B Room) in both form and function. Designed in the same Tudor architectural style, the RBR's ornamentation and woodwork is significantly paired down compared to the L&B Room, and the original furniture of large, wooden desks and chairs created an environment much more conducive to that of a study space. In 1971 the RBR collection moved to the newly opened Cross Campus Library (now Bass Library) and the space became the Periodical Reading Room (PRR). Over time, computer stations were added among the periodical stacks and study tables.

Franke Family Reading Room, circa 2002

In 2014 the PRR moved to the Newspaper Reading Room, where it has remained since. During this time the Room was briefly home to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library's (BRBL) reading room while the BRBL was closed for renovation. In 2015 the space reopened as the Franke Family Reading Room.

2018 marked the most recent transformation from reading room to home of the Franke Family Digital Humanities Laboratory (DH Lab). Funded by Richard Franke '53 B.A. and his wife, Barbara Franke, the renovation was designed by Apicella + Bunton Architects. Upon entering the DH Lab visitors will see original woodworking details alongside cutting-edge technology like high-powered computers and large touchscreen monitors. Where there were originally large, stationary wooden desks and chairs are now movable furniture and glass cube workspaces that are conducive to collaboration, creation, and creativity.

Franke Family Digital Humanities Lab, 2021

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