Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is located on the campus of Yale University and contains materials used by the students, faculty and scholars at the school. The materials are not given out for circulation but are available for research in the Reading Room. Registration is required. The library is one of the largest buildings in the world dedicated to rare books. There are 180,000 volumes in the central tower and an underground area with more than 600,000 volumes. The building features temperature and humidity controls to ensure proper preservation of the materials. The building itself is made of granite, marble, glass and bronze and was designed by Gordon Bunshaft. The project was completed in 1963. Guests enter through a revolving glass door where they are greeted by a glass tower of books that goes up through the core of the building. Part of the permanent exhibit includes the Audubon's Birds of America and The Gutenber Bible. The six major collections in residence include the General Collection, divided into the General Collection of Modern Books and Manuscripts and the General Collection of Early Books and Manuscripts and the Collection of Western Americana, the German Literature Collection and the Osborn Collection of English Literary and Historical Manuscripts.