Bass Library

In 1967, an extension of Sterling Memorial Library was proposed to expand the library's space for collections.{{cite news |title=Library Plans Expansion |newspaper=Yale Daily News |date=7 March 1967 |url=http://digital.library.yale.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/yale-ydn/id/8856/rec/38 |access-date=24 April 2014}} Though originally proposed to house the library's East Asian collection and Yale memorabilia, librarians decided instead to utilize the new space to improve access to frequently-used materials and reserve books.{{cite journal |last=Alden Branch |first=Mark |title=This is CCL? |date=January 2008 |journal=Yale Alumni Magazine |url=http://archives.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/2008_01/ccl.html |access-date=23 April 2014}} So as not to interrupt the view of the Sterling facade from the east, the library would be constructed beneath the lawn of Cross Campus, the central axis of Yale's campus. To allow for sufficient light underground, architect Edward Larrabee Barnes proposed to sink sixteen skylights into the Cross Campus lawn. When the design was made public in 1968, Yale students and faculty, including Vincent Scully, protested that the skylights would obstruct the lawn's open space, and students physically blocked early construction activities.{{cite news |last=Bates |first=Timothy |title=Architect Says Students Deserve Voice in Plans |newspaper=Yale Daily News |date=26 April 1968 |url=http://digital.library.yale.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/yale-ydn/id/23964/rec/23 |access-date=23 April 2014}}{{cite news |last=Whiteman |first=Bart |title=Yale University: Spring of 1970 |newspaper=The Chattanoogan |date=26 November 2005 |url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2005/11/26/76466/Yale-University-Spring-of-1970.aspx |access-date=23 April 2014}} Barnes and the university withdrew the original design and instead configured a lighting scheme with four large entrance light wells at the corners of Cross Campus.{{cite news |last=Nath |first=Robert |title=Barnes Rules Out Library Skylights |date=7 May 1968 |newspaper=Yale Daily News |page=1 |url=http://digital.library.yale.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/yale-ydn/id/24017/rec/10 |access-date=24 April 2014}}{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Tom |title=Underground SML proposed |date=13 March 1969 |url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2007/10/19/1969-underground-sml-proposed/ |access-date=23 April 2014}} The new library, opened in January 1971 at a cost of $4 million, housed 300,000 volumes and remained open 24 hours a day.{{cite news |title=Underground Library Opens |date=25 January 1971 |newspaper=Yale Daily News |page=1 |url=http://digital.library.yale.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/yale-ydn/id/195264/rec/14 |access-date=24 April 2014}}

Although the protestors' concerns were addressed in the redesign, reception of the new Cross Campus Library was generally poor. The underground location posed significant structural and architectural challenges to the facility: the sod-covered roof persistently leaked, and the light wells let in little natural light. Students described its functional aesthetic and fluorescent lighting as "antiseptic."{{cite news |title=Cross Campus Library |date=22 February 1971 |newspaper=Yale Daily News |page=4 |url=http://digital.library.yale.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/yale-ydn/id/195205/rec/1 |access-date=24 April 2014}}{{cite news |last=Fraerman |first=Jim |title=The Changing Yale Building: Monumentality to Functionalism |date=15 October 1976 |newspaper=Yale Daily News |page=6 |url=http://digital.library.yale.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/yale-ydn/id/140990/rec/3 |access-date=24 April 2014}}

In 2004, Yale announced a major renovation of Cross Campus Library.{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Tom |title=CCL Primes To Renovate |date=26 February 2004 |newspaper=Yale Daily News |url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2004/02/26/ccl-primes-to-renovate/ |access-date=24 April 2014}} The two-year, {{US$|47.8 million}} project, led by Thomas Beeby, was completed in October 2007.{{cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Thomas |title=Library Opens at Midnight |date=19 October 2007 |newspaper=Yale Daily News |url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2007/10/19/library-opens-at-midnight/ |access-date=24 April 2014}} The library was renamed Bass Library after the renovation's lead donors, Anne and Robert Bass of Texas who donated nearly $20 million toward the effort.{{Cite web|url=https://giving.yale.edu/news/yale-dedicates-anne-t-and-robert-m-bass-library|title = News | for Humanity}}

In 2019, Yale announced plans to expand study areas by transferring approximately 100,000 rarely used or duplicate titles to the adjacent Sterling Memorial Library. The proposed renovation would leaving Bass Library with a collection of approximately 40,000 volumes, while seating capacity would expand from 365 to 470.{{cite news|title=Smaller, more vibrant collection planned for renovated Bass Library |date=3 February 2019 |url=https://web.library.yale.edu/news/2019/02/smaller-more-vibrant-collection-planned-renovated-bass-library |access-date=6 February 2019}} After students objected, a revised plan was announced with 61,000 books to be retained in Bass library and an accelerated completion timeline to have the library available to students for the fall 2019 semester.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/04/21/yale-students-arent-ready-close-book-schools-libraries-just-yet/|title=Yale students aren't ready to close the book on the school's libraries just yet|last1=Yaffe-Bellany|first1=David|last2=Stern|first2=Jacob|date=April 21, 2019|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2019-04-26}}

The library has two subterranean floors totaling {{convert|60000|sqft|m2}} which can be accessed from Cross Campus or Sterling Memorial Library.{{cite web |title=Bass Library |website=HBRA Architects |url=http://www.hbra-arch.com/projects/academic_bass.html |access-date=24 April 2014 |archive-date=20 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120233654/http://www.hbra-arch.com/projects/academic_bass.html |url-status=dead }} The 2007 renovation by HBRA Architects, intended to harmonize the library's interiors with those of surrounding Gothic Revival buildings, refurbished the building with stone floors, steel mullions and wood-panelled shelves and interior walls.{{cite journal |title=The Bass Library Grand Opening |journal=Nota Bene |volume=22 |issue=2 |date=Fall 2007 |url=http://www.library.yale.edu/notabene/nb_v22_no2.pdf |access-date=24 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526081913/http://www.library.yale.edu/notabene/nb_v22_no2.pdf |archive-date=26 May 2013 }} Kent Bloomer, a Yale School of Architecture professor, designed ornament for the Cross Campus entrances, which references Gothic elements of Sterling Memorial Library.{{cite news |last=Needham |first=Paul |title=Professor Adds Decorative Touch To Yale Campus |date=29 September 2009 |newspaper=Yale Daily News |url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2009/09/29/professor-adds-decorative-touch-to-yale-campus/ |access-date=24 April 2014}}{{cite web |title=Bass Library, Yale University |website=Kent Bloomer Studio |url=http://bloomerstudio.com/projects/sculpture-relief/bass-library-yale-university/ |access-date=24 April 2014}}

The library is noted on campus for its "weenie bins," small cubicles available for private study.{{cite news |last=Arnsdorf |first=Isaac |title=Weenie Bin C62F |newspaper=Yale Daily News |date=April 23, 2011 |url=http://yaledailynews.com/magazine/2011/04/13/weenie-bin-c62f/ |access-date=6 June 2014}}

The library holds approximately 150,000 books, and had held 50,000 more before its renovation.{{cite web |last=Prochaska |first=Alice |title=Annual Report of the Librarian, 2007–2008 |year=2008 |publisher=Yale University Library |url=http://www.library.yale.edu/librarynews/Annual%20Report%20of%20the%20Librarian%202007-2008.pdf |access-date=24 April 2014}} In 2008, the Yale College Council debuted a DVD film collection to be housed in Bass for student use.{{cite news |last=Abrahamson |first=Zach |title=DVD library votes: From Mulan to Mean Girls |newspaper=Yale Daily News |date=26 February 2008 |url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2008/02/26/dvd-library-votes-from-mulan-to-mean-girls/ |access-date=24 April 2014}} By 2024, all DVDs from this collection were removed and/or relocated to the Yale Film Archive.{{cite web |title=Bass Library Collection |url=https://library.yale.edu/collection-development/statements/bass-library-collection |website=library.yale.edu |access-date=24 January 2025}} The library also loans digital media equipment to Yale University staff, students, and faculty, including DSLR cameras, audio equipment, lighting kits, and Google Glass.{{cite news |last=Hsin |first=Carol |title=High tech gear available at Bass

|date=19 October 2010 |newspaper=Yale Daily News |url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2010/10/19/high-tech-gear-available-at-bass/ |access-date=24 April 2014}}{{cite web |title=Bass media equipment check-out service expanded |website=Yale News |publisher=Yale Office of Public Affairs and Communications |date=28 January 2011 |url=http://news.yale.edu/2011/01/18/bass-media-equipment-check-out-service-expanded |access-date=24 April 2014}}{{cite news |last=Buckingham |first=Amanda |title=Google Glass comes to Bass |newspaper=Yale Daily News |date=7 March 2014 |url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2014/03/07/google-glass-comes-to-bass/ |access-date=2 May 2014}}

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{{Commons category|Bass Library}}

• [http://web.library.yale.edu/bass Bass Library website]

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Category:Yale University buildings

Category:Yale University Library

Category:Library buildings completed in 1971

Category:Subterranea of the United States