In 2023, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded UC Merced an Infrastructure & Capacity Building Challenge Grant, which Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz matched with funds from the 2022 Mackenzie Scott gift to UC Merced. The grant supports the creation of secure, climate-controlled archives and special collections storage in the Kolligian Library building; a public reading room; and an archives learning and programming space.
Working with local firm Darden Architects, we have completed the design and construction documents for these spaces. We plan to begin renovation of the Library’s fourth floor for the first component of the project in the summer of 2025:
Expanded, Secure Storage
Archives and special collections require the right environment to ensure they are protected from damage and deterioration and are preserved for use. Without the proper temperature and humidity control, photographs can fade, paper can become moldy, and other forms of media will corrode. The original archives and special collections storage space in the Library was built without the required climate controls, and overhead plumbing lines present a risk of water leakage. A newly designed storage space with expanded storage capacity will include a dedicated HVAC unit to maintain appropriate climate control for the archives.
We continue to seek philanthropic support to complete the planned program, which will renovate existing spaces to:
- Provide a dedicated reading room for researchers to use our collections;
- Create an instructional space to accommodate classes of up to 30 students, with flexible furnishings and technology to support public programming; and
- Upgrade high-density storage space with climate control.
