DAR Library Shelving Improvement Project Successfully Completed

The DAR Library is excited to announce the completion of the shelving improvement project resulting in 80% more storage space in the library balconies. The shelving project is part of a greater mission to increase accessibility to books and resources in the DAR Library's collection.

Construction began in early 2006 on the library's upper balconies. Rolling bookshelves that help to increase the shelving capacity were installed on the three upper balconies. The project enabled the DAR Library to shift select materials previously located in the stacks on the main floor to the more spacious shelving in the upper balconies. In turn, the main floor has now gained more free space.

In addition, Library staff are working steadily to decrease the number of duplicate books in the collection. These steps are being made to ensure the DAR Library has space for newly published books as they become available and the collection can continue to grow at a healthy rate.

Before construction began, engineers inspected the DAR Library and guaranteed the structural soundness of the upper balconies. Since the 1960s, steal beams have reinforced the balconies. The area was originally used to hold seats when the room served as the original auditorium for Continental Congress.

Thanks to a generous bequest to fund the shelving project, and to the patience of library researchers as well as the DAR Library and Genealogy staff during the construction, the DAR Library collection can continue to grow and provide outstanding resources and services to the membership and the public.