The Library will host an open house on Wednesday, April 29, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in honor of Preservation Week. We invite you to join us as we open the stacks to showcase materials from our collection that are not typically available in the Reading Room, and to learn more about our ongoing efforts to preserve and strengthen the collection.
Many of our rare books will be featured, including our oldest book, an early printed version of Justinian’s Institute from 1472, along with colonial laws, old law dictionaries (many of which still get pulled and scanned today), reports of trials, including the transcripts of the cases stemming from the 1919 Great Molasses Flood. We will also display a variety of unique items donated to the Library over the years, ranging from Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw’s chair to personal letters, diaries, and other artifacts.
As a working collection, the Library must carefully balance preservation with access. In addition to maintaining materials in optimal condition, we support use through initiatives such as microfiche conversion, the creation of searchable databases, and the digitization of resources not available elsewhere.
We hope you will join us to learn more about these efforts, speak with our librarians, explore the collection, and enjoy light refreshments.