In an article in the September issue of the MIT Faculty Newsletter, Interim Director of Libraries, Steve Gass, and the Chair of the Faculty Committee on the Library System, Professor Jeffrey Ravel, outline plans for major changes to Hayden Library, and other library spaces.

“…the Hayden Building, now over 60 years old, requires significant investment to renew the building infrastructure, and to exhibit the necessary flexibility going forward so that the Libraries’ program will continue to meet the needs of current and future faculty and students. The necessary redesign of Hayden provides an opportunity more generally to rethink library spaces across campus,” the article states.

Ravel and Gass share initial recommendations that have come from the architecture firm Shepley Bulfinch, including a Phase One report that, “envisions library spaces in Hayden (Building 14) as the hub of the library system, providing a rich mix of learning environments and collections for science, engineering, humanities, music, and archives. It endorses the concept of Hayden becoming a library centric academic village.”

Initial planning has begun for a phased series of improvements that will:

• create flexible, technology-enhanced, contemporary library spaces
• upgrade library spaces in Hayden, Barker, and Rotch Libraries
• energize digital learning, innovation, and global engagement at MIT

The Libraries welcome feedback and ideas from the MIT community. Student feedback sessions will be held on October 6, and October 14. Register to participate.

Also see the website: Planning the future of library spaces at MIT for more information, and read the full MIT Faculty Newsletter article, Redesigning Hayden Library and the Future of Library Spaces at MIT.