We were recently able to reorganize the general collections in Hayden in call number order in the basement. The basement is not included in this renovation, and we are not reducing the footprint of collections in the basement. We are going to relocate some of the non-book collections currently in Hayden. We plan to create smaller, engaging, thematic displays of collections in the redesigned spaces on the first and second floors.

Yes, we anticipate the second floor will remain a quiet zone.

This is a tightly scoped and budgeted renovation that targets the first and second floors only. We are hoping to address the basement in a future phase. While the basement will not be renovated during this project, construction crews will need to modify much of the building’s infrastructure located there during the construction period.

This renovation gives us a terrific opportunity to purposely design Hayden Library to meet both the enduring and the emerging needs of our communities. We want library space to be participatory, creative, dynamic, and welcoming for a greater diversity of people — people who may not even be library users today. We want to increase the visibility of what goes on in the Libraries: creative work, using collections, dynamic events, collaborations, informal gatherings, and more. We want to accommodate a wide range of study styles and space needs, whether it’s quiet, contemplative space, a private room to practice a presentation, or a place to host a hackathon or art installation.

Hayden Library plays a key role on campus because of its prime physical location and size. It has potential to bring together members of the MIT community across departments and schools, in ways both formal and informal. At 70 years old, Hayden is also a prime candidate for renewal, and its architecture offers opportunities to design new approaches to library space without requiring a full renovation of Building 14. We will continue to consider how all library spaces across campus work together as a whole to serve the MIT community and will continue to explore improvements throughout our locations.

In addition to infrastructure upgrades, you can expect a new cafe, expanded 24/7 study space, a greater variety of study spaces, and a flexible event and teaching space. We are aiming for LEED Gold certification and will be piloting two new building certifications that focus on selecting healthy materials and having a positive impact on occupant health and productivity.

There are a number of sources of community input we have incorporated into the renovation planning process thus far:

• Questions in our triennial user surveys have asked students, faculty, and staff about what types of spaces they need;
• We have been experimenting with different furniture types and configurations and sound zoning in Hayden and collecting feedback;
• Open forums were held by the Task Force on the Future of Libraries and the Libraries Space Planning Group; and
• Workshops were held by Kennedy Violich Architects with MIT community members in spring 2019.

We have also been gathering comments submitted to space-lib@mit.edu. You are welcome to share your own thoughts with the project team at this email address and your interest in talking with us about the renovation.