Visual Resources Collection Facilities

VRC
^{Visual Resources Collection, Room 300, Lawrence Hall}

In 1985 the Visual Resources Collection was housed in a small cavernous space on the second floor of Lawrence Hall. In 1990 the collection was moved to its present facililty on the third floor of Lawrence Hall -- new space designed specifically to accommodate the growth and expansion of the resources and clientele.

1990-2006

	Both the AAA Library and the Visual Resources Collection are housed in contiguous spaces on the second and third floors of the new south extension. The new space has a bow-shaped facade and many windows. The space is divided into discrete work areas: the main room to house the slide collection, a workroom for technical processing, a preview room for collection users, and an office for the Curator. In a room adjacent to the slide area is space to house the photograph collection and a photography studio with a sink.
The southern exposure is ideal during the Oregon winter season and sunny summers. Blinds allow regulation of light as needed. The Circulation Desk stands near the entrance. Slide cabinets form two rows with light carrels and tables in between.
	The light fixtures from the Multiplex rack cabinets were fitted into the custom-built light carrels. New wood bases are used to elevate the slide drawer units and also serve as storage cabinets. The open door leads into the technical processing workroom. Beyond the slide cabinets is the entrance to the Curator's office.

1985-1989

	The slide collection was housed in Multiplex cabinets. Four lighted surfaces on two tables provided workspace for users, primarily faculty from the School of Architecture and Allied Arts. After hours, the collection was the repository for borrowed equipment.
Users found creative ways to see the images in the racks, not always choosing the safest methods. The small space became even smaller when the room was crowded with users. Outside, in the hallway, students viewed pictures posted from the Photograph Collection. Part of the space used to house the photograph cabinets was used by the Head Librarian and the Reference Librarian as offices.
	Space needed for slide binding and typing labels was one in the same with the users' space. The closet served as the "photography studio." The first major improvement in the collection was the replacement of the Multiplex (rack) cabinets with Neumade (drawer) units. The so-called office of curator Christine Sundt, pictured in a less than serious moment with student workers, was behind the partition (actually a very large bookcase).

Maintained by: Julia Simic, jsimic@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 10/18/2011