Widener Library to Receive $20 Million Overhaul Next Year

The world's largest university library will undergo the first major refurbishment of its 80-year life when Harvard overhauls the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, beginning in 1999.

The multi-million dollar project is expected to take two years and will affect every one of the library's 3.2 million volumes. Despite the fact that fundraising efforts for the project have lagged, the University plans to go full steam ahead--after a nine-month planning process is completed in the fall.

"The time has come to bring Widener forward into a new era," said President Neil L. Rudenstine in a statement.

The University will add a much-needed climate control system, fire protection and electrical systems.

The lack of modernized climate control systems has led to significant book decay. Nearly three out of four of Harvard's folios dating from 1800 to 1950 were declared "imbrittled," in a recent sample survey.

"It certainly is about time we are doing it," said Sidney H. Verba '53, director of the library and Pforzheimer University professor.

Officials have said Harvard's vast library holdings may deteriorate further if no action is taken.

The price of the project will not be determined until figures are presented in a nine-month feasibility study performed by Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, an architectural engineering firm. But preliminary estimates place the cost at $20 million, minimum.

"We don't have clear [cost] estimates yet," Verba said. "It will not be cheap," he added.

The University has pledged to support the renovation, despite the relatively sluggish pace of donations to the Capital Campaign dedicated to the Harvard University Library System.

Harvard has declared the renovation a priority issue for the final part of its $2.1 billion campaign. As of last year, the library's fund drive had reached only 27 percent of its goal, while the University as a whole was 74 percent through its campaign.

Despite this apparent lack of funding, the University has pledged to proceed with the repairs and enhancements as it attempts to raise more money.

Harvard will install heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems, as well as sprinkler mechanisms and improved smoke detection. Study carrels will be networked and ultraviolet filters will be put on the windows.

Architects will also investigate the pos- sibility of building an additional two or threelevels inside the building's inner courtyard.

"There's a serious [space] need," said Susan A.Lee, associate librarian for planning andadministration.

Lee said the library's problems are not alwaysevident.

"Widener looks very well to people from theoutside--the building has held up," Lee said."That may have worked to its disadvantage."

Officials say students will be able to accessmost of the stacks during the renovations. Currentplans call for crews to work on two floors of asingle wing of the building at a time, leaving therest of the library open, Lee said

"There's a serious [space] need," said Susan A.Lee, associate librarian for planning andadministration.

Lee said the library's problems are not alwaysevident.

"Widener looks very well to people from theoutside--the building has held up," Lee said."That may have worked to its disadvantage."

Officials say students will be able to accessmost of the stacks during the renovations. Currentplans call for crews to work on two floors of asingle wing of the building at a time, leaving therest of the library open, Lee said