History Regenstein Library

the regenstein library constructed on former site of alonzo stagg field first controlled, self-sustaining, nuclear chain reaction took place on december 2, 1942. henry moore s bronze sculpture nuclear energy commemorates event.

the building has 5 floors above ground , 2 basements. each floor has large reading room in center desks, group study rooms, lockers , shelved reference works. reading room on floors 2 , 3 connected small atrium. reading rooms separated stacks, located on west side of building, stacks can maintained @ lower temperatures, more amicable book conservation. 220 faculty studies line east side of building.

the regenstein s overflowing collection posed space problems book stacks. in may 2005, university of chicago s board of trustees authorized funding $42 million addition library, completed mid-2011. joe , rika mansueto library, designed chicago-based architect helmut jahn, consists of glass-domed reading room, under lies automated storage , retrieval system stretching fifty feet underground. allows library maintain physical copies of materials available online while creating space within book stacks accommodate approximately 20 years of new print acquisitions.

the regenstein library popular social space university of chicago college students: on our campus, s not football game draws biggest crowd, s evening study in library, said former provost richard saller. re campus library sort of social center because focus [of university].

the regenstein library location of special collections research center, houses rare book collections, manuscripts, , university archives. scrc established in 1953 herman h. fussler , moved reg when opened in 1970. rare books collection holds approximately 265,000 volumes.