Architectural History of Sterling Memorial Library

Stacks

Sterling Memorial Library stacks construction , 1929

If the library is the heart of the University, then the bookstack (or “stacks”) is the heart of the library. With the exterior visible from any angle, the bookstack stands 150 feet tall and is divided into 16 tiers. Underneath its gothic exterior, the bookstack is supported by a two-thousand-pound free standing unit of steel and iron. At the time of the library’s construction, this was noted for being “the largest welding job of its time.” 

Sterling Memorial Library Stack Room Station

In addition to this novel use of steel framing, the bookstack also boasts adjustable shelf supports that allow for collection expansion, customizable shelving, and a centralized home to the library’s collection. To efficiently move materials throughout the bookstack and serve patrons, James Gamble Rogers implemented state-of-the-art pneumatic tube and conveyor systems. Like the steel framing, these technological advances were designed to function beneath the more traditional stone and ornamental woodwork that line the library’s walls. 

The entrance to the bookstack is located at the end of the nave, with elevators available to usher patrons to each floor. The handwrought iron elevator doors were created by Samuel Yellin and are decorated with the following figures: Medicine, Law, Shipping, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Chemistry, Husbandry, and Machine work.