Linonia and Brothers Library

Linonia and Brothers Library is a historic library located at Yale University, founded in 1763 by Abraham Pierson, Nathan Beers, and Jehu Burr. The library is named after the Linonian Society and the Brothers in Unity, two of the oldest Literary societies at Yale University, which were established by Jonathan Edwards and Timothy Dwight IV. The library's collection includes Rare books from Christ Church, Oxford, Harvard University, and University of Cambridge, as well as Manuscripts from Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. The library is also home to a vast collection of Prints from Rembrandt van Rijn, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dali.

● History

The history of the library dates back to 1763, when it was founded by Abraham Pierson, Nathan Beers, and Jehu Burr, with the support of Jonathan Edwards and Timothy Dwight IV. The library was initially housed in the Old College building, which was designed by Peter Harrison and built with the help of King's College and University of Pennsylvania. The library's collection grew rapidly, with donations from Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, as well as Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and Christ Church, Oxford. The library also received support from The Library of Congress, The British Library, and The National Archives.

● Architecture

The library's building was designed by Peter Harrison in the Georgian style, with influences from Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones. The building features a Clock tower designed by Joseph R. Brown, and a Reading room with a Vaulted ceiling and Stained glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The library's exterior is made of Limestone and Brick, with a Portico supported by Ionic columns designed by James Gibbs. The building has undergone several renovations, including a major restoration project led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects.

● Collections

The library's collection includes over 100,000 Rare books, Manuscripts, and Prints, with a focus on American literature, History of the United States, and Western philosophy. The collection features works by William Shakespeare, John Milton, and Alexander Pope, as well as Manuscripts from Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. The library also has a significant collection of Prints from Rembrandt van Rijn, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dali, as well as Photographs from Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange. The library's collection is supported by The Library of Congress, The British Library, and The National Archives.

● Services

The library offers a range of services, including Research assistance from Yale University Library staff, Interlibrary loan services with Harvard University Library and University of Cambridge Library, and Digital scholarship support from Stanford University Libraries and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries. The library also provides Study spaces and Collaboration rooms designed by Gensler and Perkins+Will, as well as Exhibition spaces for Special collections and Archives. The library's services are supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The National Endowment for the Humanities, and The Institute of Museum and Library Services.

● Renovations_and_Expansions

The library has undergone several renovations and expansions, including a major restoration project led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects in the 1990s. The project included the addition of a new Reading room designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and a Conservation laboratory equipped with State-of-the-art technology from The Getty Conservation Institute and The National Archives. The library has also expanded its Digital collections with the support of Google Books, Internet Archive, and HathiTrust.

● Notable_Features

The library features several notable Artworks, including a Portrait of Jonathan Edwards by John Singleton Copley and a Sculpture by Auguste Rodin. The library also has a Memorial room dedicated to Timothy Dwight IV and a Reading room with a Vaulted ceiling and Stained glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The library's Clock tower is a prominent Landmark on the Yale University campus, and its Portico is supported by Ionic columns designed by James Gibbs. The library is also home to a Rare book room with a Climate-controlled environment designed by SmithGroup and a Security system provided by G4S.

Category:Libraries in the United States