Fales Library

Fales Library is a renowned research library located within New York University's Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, housing a vast collection of rare and unique materials, including works by Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, and T.S. Eliot. The library is named after DeCoursey Fales, a prominent New York City collector and New York University alumnus, who donated his extensive collection of rare books and manuscripts to the university. Fales Library has become a hub for scholars and researchers, attracting visitors from institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. The library's collections have been utilized by notable scholars, including Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, in their research on Poststructuralism and Critical theory.

● History

The history of Fales Library dates back to the early 20th century, when DeCoursey Fales began collecting rare books and manuscripts, including works by William Shakespeare, John Donne, and Alexander Pope. Fales' collection was later donated to New York University, which established the library in his name, with the support of New York University President John Brademas and Chancellor Henry Mitchell MacCracken. The library has since grown to include materials from various donors, including Dorothy Parker, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and has become a major research center for scholars of Modernism and American literature, with connections to institutions such as Yale University, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley. Fales Library has also collaborated with other research libraries, including the British Library, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and Library of Congress, on projects related to Digital humanities and Rare book conservation.

● Collections

The collections at Fales Library are diverse and extensive, featuring rare books, manuscripts, and archival materials related to Literary modernism, Dadaism, and Surrealism, with works by artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dalí, and Pablo Picasso. The library's holdings include the personal papers of notable authors, such as Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and Ernest Hemingway, as well as rare editions of works by James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner. Fales Library is also home to the Downtown Collection, which documents the Downtown Manhattan art and literary scene of the 1970s and 1980s, with materials related to Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring. The library's collections have been used by scholars researching topics such as Postmodernism, Feminist theory, and Queer theory, with connections to institutions such as University of Chicago, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

● Architecture

The Fales Library is located within the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library building, designed by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster, which features a unique blend of Modern architecture and Postmodern architecture. The library's reading room is designed to provide a quiet and intimate space for researchers, with natural light and comfortable seating, and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including Digital scanning and Conservation equipment. The building is also home to other notable libraries and research centers, including the Avery Fisher Center for Music and Media and the New York University Archives, and has been recognized for its innovative design by organizations such as the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

● Services

Fales Library offers a range of services to support researchers, including Research assistance, Instructional programs, and Exhibition planning, with collaborations with institutions such as Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum, and Whitney Museum of American Art. The library's staff provides expert guidance on navigating the collections and using the library's resources, and offers workshops and training sessions on topics such as Rare book handling and Digital scholarship. Fales Library also provides access to Digital collections and Online databases, including JSTOR and ProQuest, and has partnerships with other research libraries, such as the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Museum, to support interdisciplinary research and collaboration.

● Exhibitions

Fales Library hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing materials from its collections and highlighting the work of notable authors and artists, such as Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William S. Burroughs. Recent exhibitions have included shows on The Beats, Punk rock, and Downtown Manhattan art and literature, with loans from institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and the Tate Modern. The library's exhibitions are often accompanied by Public programs, including Lectures, Workshops, and Performances, which bring together scholars, artists, and community members to discuss and celebrate the library's collections, with connections to events such as the Venice Biennale and the Berlin International Film Festival. Fales Library's exhibitions have been recognized for their innovation and excellence by organizations such as the American Library Association and the College Art Association. Category:Libraries in the United States