Recently, it was rumored the European Reading Room in the Library of Congress (LC), which focuses on information relating to European collections, may be closing. This is not the case, and the LC issued a press release with more details. Read LC press release. Questions still remained, so SLA contacted LC staff with questions. Deanna Marcum, Associate Librarian for Library Services, promptly replied. Questions and answers have been listed below:
SLA Staff (SLA): When will the move be implemented? How will it be advertised?
Deanna Marcum (DM): The move will occur, most probably, in late June. We will send information to the listservs most widely read by the European Reading Room constituents. We will also issue an announcement from the Library's Public Affairs Office.
SLA: During the move, will resources be available?
DM: We have pledged that there would be no interruption in service. The new space will be ready by the moving date, and the work will be done over a weekend.
SLA: Will the new space accommodate the entire collection currently housed in the European Reading Room?
DM: The reference materials now available to scholars will continue to be available in the new space. Many of the books in the current Reading Room are decorative only and not available to the public. There are already some reference materials housed on Deck 13. We are working with designers now on the layout of the new space. It may be necessary to put a few more reference materials on Deck 13, but our strong wish is to keep all of the current reference resources conveniently at hand for the scholars.
SLA: How easy is it to access the materials housed on Deck 13?
DM: Patrons are not allowed onto the Deck 13, for security reasons, but reference staff retrieves materials from that area for the patrons in about five minutes.
SLA: How much seating will be in the new space vs. current space?
DM: There are 36 reading spaces in the current reading room (although 19 simultaneous readers is our current high). The new space will have 18-20 reading spaces, depending upon the design ultimately selected.
SLA: Will the new space offer reserve shelves? How close to a photocopier is it?
DM: The design work is still underway, so I cannot answer your question about reserve shelves. A photocopier will be in the new reading room. That is one of the requirements submitted by the European Reading Room staff.
SLA: Will on-line catalogs be available in the new space?
DM: The same number of PC's and databases that are in the current space will be in the new space.
SLA: Will patrons be able to interact with staff in the same way as before?
DM: Yes.
SLA: Will staff levels remain the same?
DM: Yes.
SLA: How long will this relocation be in place?
DM: This will be a permanent relocation.
Please contact SLA’s Chief Policy Officer, Doug Newcomb, with any questions or additional information. dnewcomb@sla.org.