Old Library moves collections in landmark conservation project

The monumental task of decanting the Library collections as part of the Old Library Redevelopment Project has begun. 

For the landmark conservation project to start, the Library’s Research Collections housed in the Old Library must be transferred to special storage. This means removing 350,000 early printed books and a total of 700,000 items as part of the Library collections. Readers will continue to have access to all material in an Interim Research Collections Study Centre during the lifetime of the building conservation project. It is one of the largest decant [temporary removal] processes to take place of a heritage building in Ireland. 

Minister Malcolm Noonan was joined by Trinity Provost, Dr Linda Doyle, Bursar, Professor Eleanor Denny, and Librarian & College Archivist, Helen Shenton during the visit and met the Library team involved in the historic project.  As part of the decant process, each book is carefully cleaned with a specialised vacuum, measured, electronically tagged and linked to an online catalogue record, before being safely relocated to a climate-controlled storage facility.  

Minister Noonan said: “I am delighted to be here today, witnessing this historic once in a lifetime decant as it unfolds. We have a shared responsibility towards our cultural heritage and Trinity College Dublin through this conservation project is ensuring this 18th century Old Library building and its collections are conserved for the next century. Significant care and consideration goes into moving a collection of this scale and the dedication of the Library team is impressive.” 

Provost Linda Doyle said: “The Old Library Redevelopment Project is a transformative undertaking which will preserve this priceless cultural institution for the next generation and beyond. The decant, led by the Library team, is a massive operation, with more than 50 Library staff assisted by over 25 project assistants. It marks a key stage in this transformative redevelopment project.” 

 Minister Noonan met with Library staff who designed the project and are now carrying it out, helped by project assistants. The project assistants busily working away in the Long Room are early career archivists, conservators and museum professionals from across the country and internationally.  The first book to be decanted was a 19th century publication, ‘Reeves' History of the English law: from the time of the Romans to the end of the reign of Elizabeth’ and many more have followed. 

Librarian and College Archivist, Helen Shenton said:  “This is a particularly complex and sensitive decant. There are so many precious books, manuscripts and objects held in the vast collections, which extend over many centuries. Imagine a house move at scale – thousands of times bigger and more complicated in order to move 700,000 items."

 Trinity Bursar, Professor Eleanor Denny is Chair of the Old Library Redevelopment Project and is leading the project for the University along with all other construction projects on campus:  “The decant process is critical for the next stage of the restoration project. Once complete, the Old Library will close at the end of Autumn 2023 and the urgent structural and environmental upgrades can then take place over a three-year period. It is a once in a lifetime project, and it will future-proof both the 18th century building and its collections for the 22nd century and beyond." 

For all information on the Old Library Redevelopment Project see Old Library Redevelopment Project - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie) 

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