From: Ravi Ravishanker, CIO and Associate Provost
We are excited to announce that the Clapp Library will open at 8:15 AM on Tuesday, September 2nd and we welcome the community to visit the library to see all the changes that have been made. A full list of library hours can be found here (click on the arrows on the right to move to future weeks). Here are some of the major changes that everyone will notice:
- The ramp for wheelchair access at the main entrance
- A newly redesigned service desk at the 2nd floor entrance
- ILL operations on the 2nd floor behind the service desk
- Crozier presidential portrait room restored to being a Reading Room
- PLTC (Pforzheimer Learning and Teaching Center) and ADR (Accessibility and Disability Resources) are now in newly designed spaces on the second floor
- LTS Helpdesk and staff offices have moved to the third floor
- Significant changes to the Special Collections and Archives on the fourth floor
- Completely changed 1st floor with a space for Cafe
- Newly created Makerspace and a new equipment check-out desk for checking out Chromebooks, laptops, and makerspace equipment
- Humanities Hub on the first floor
- Significantly more study spaces for students all through the library
We had communicated several times about how the stacks for the general collections would be repositioned to make them handicapped accessible. Though this resulted in less stack space than before, removal of some older bound journals and government documents provided additional space for collections. We are happy to let you know that with a few exceptions, the Clapp general collections have all been returned to the building.
We took this opportunity to rearrange the General collections materials on all four floors of the stacks areas.
- The call numbers are now arranged as follows:
- A-D: First floor
- E-H: Second floor
- J-PQ: Third floor
- PR-Z: Fourth floor
- Previously we had two separate sections for Quartos and Folios. Now, there is a single Oversized area at the end of each floor. This change is reflected in the library catalog.
- You will also notice that instead of zig-zagging back and forth between each short range of shelving, materials have been arranged so that they now run back and forth across multiple ranges within each “wing” of the stacks. Please use the range finder information on each range of shelving to help you locate call numbers.
- The print Science collection has been fully integrated by call number with the rest of the Clapp general collections.
The moving of approximately 700,000 volumes from Clapp to storage and back was a non-trivial process and I want to thank the staff from Library Collections for doing a terrific job managing this. Despite the careful work, because of the logistics involved in moving the books from storage boxes to the shelf, we expect some mis-shelving. LTS staff will soon begin the stack review process to correct any errors. In the meantime, we ask the community to reach out to the staff if you cannot find what you are looking for. But more importantly, if you notice any mis-shelvings, we would greatly appreciate it if you can let the staff know by stopping by the Service desk or sending an email to askus@wellesley.edu.
Given the number of changes that have happened in Clapp, we strongly advise you to take advantage of daily group tours that the LTS staff will be offering during the first two weeks of the semester. We encourage you to sign up for these group tours by filling out this form. We also are planning an Open House in mid-October, so please be on the lookout for that announcement.
ILL is open and available for use by the community from September 2. Please use https://libguides.wellesley.edu/ill/ to request materials.
The Wellesley College Archives and Special Collections are finalizing the move into newly renovated spaces on the 4th floor and will soon be ready to provide services for the community. Faculty interested in class visits to Special Collections should email specialcollections@wellesley.edu and contact archives@wellesley.edu for research or class visits to the Archives.
The cafe, planned to be on the first floor, is unfortunately not ready yet. We expect it to open for the Spring 2026 semester. Stay tuned for more information.
This renovation is complex and it is to be expected that some work will continue even after we open. We will be actively working with the facilities team to prioritize and complete them. We would like to let you know the ones that will impact the users of the library the most:
- You will notice that there are insufficient power outlets in several of the larger reading areas on all four floors. We expect these to be available some time in October.
- Work will continue on the first floor where the cafe will be. We are scheduling the work here to cause the least disruption for the users of the Library.
- Permanent lighting fixtures (table lamps and decorative pendants) for the Crozier Reading Room are delayed and we expect them in late October/early November. New chairs will also be arriving soon. The room will have sufficient overhead lighting and temporary chairs for the time being.
Hope you will visit the library soon after the opening and will be as excited and impressed as we all are!
