October 13, 2008 through January 9, 2009
The new ASC will be named the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center.
The Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center will be located on the fourth floor of Stewart Center. Entrance to the Center will be through the Humanities, Social Science and Education Library elevator on the main floor of Stewart Center.
January 12, 2009
ASC’s current facilities are overcrowded, and do not offer optimum temperature, humidity, and security levels for rare materials. The new Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center will bring together critical historical documents and rare books currently dispersed across several campus libraries and offsite campus storage areas into one secure and environmentally controlled facility. The Center will include an inviting reception area and exhibit space, a quiet research reading room, a workroom for processing and preserving materials, a digitization room, and an instruction area to promote classroom use of archival materials.
The new Karnes Center will allow the archives staff to better care for treasured collections while making them more accessible to researchers. With expanded exhibitions space and the addition of a classroom, the Center will enhance the visitor’s experience with increased exhibitions and programs. A new reading room that blends elements of traditional and modern design will offer an elegant, quiet space conducive to research and appreciation of Purdue history.
Unique archival documents and rare books require additional care in handling, preservation, and security measures during a move. ASC contains thousands of feet of documents, photographs, films, architectural drawings, books and related materials. The Archives will be moving over 130 years worth of university records, fragile historic manuscripts, rare books dating to the 16th century, and other items that require extreme care in handling as well as additional security while moving. Because collections will be packed up in boxes and shrink wrapped on pallets, it will be impossible to retrieve materials for reference services during the temporary closure.
Because all ASC staff will be busy packing and moving collections and offices, no collections or reference assistance will be available during the closure. Many requests for information relating to Purdue history can be answered using resources on the ASC website listed below. For patrons whose requests cannot be answered with online resources, ASC staff will attempt to answer questions as time allows, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to access the collections in a timely manner. Some patrons may be able to wait until the new facility opens in January. For patrons with urgent requests, staff in ASC will do everything possible to meet their deadlines while keeping in mind that some items will be difficult if not impossible to locate while the collections are packed up or in transit. Please direct any comments or concerns to Sammie Morris, Head of Archives and Special Collections (morris18@purdue.edu).
Many questions relating to Purdue history can be answered using the Archives and Special Collections website.