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  4. Collections on the Move

Collections on the Move

Illustration by Jeff Bland

To realize the vision of creating a new space for Special Collections and Archives on the fourth floor of Cabell, the existing space must be opened up. A critical reality is relocating parts of the circulating collection.  

VCU Libraries has long recognized the need to expand storage for print materials housed at both libraries. In November 2019, the libraries concluded a study with the Library of Virginia that documented the feasibility and need for offsite storage for both entities. The final report proposed expanding the Library of Virginia’s State Records Center to add a building/pod for high-density storage for print materials. The Virginia General Assembly funded the project in 2023-24. Construction on the new State Records Center storage pod is on schedule for January 2027 completion. 

The timing is fortuitous as VCU Libraries works to accommodate an expansion of VCU Medical Center that necessitates the relocation of collections and personnel from the Health Sciences Library. Most of the Health Sciences Library general collections will move to the State Records Center before July 2027. Public spaces and personnel also will find a new home in the newly renovated Hunton Student Center.

State-of-the-Art Offsite Storage

Special Collections and Archives on the fourth floor of Cabell is being expanded to accept special collection and archival materials from the Health Sciences Library. This expansion requires shifting circulating collections at Cabell Library and moving materials to the new State Records Center, a state-of-the-art offsite storage facility. 

The bulk of the Health Sciences Library print collection will move from 12th Street to the new State Records Center storage pod during the spring semester 2027, after which the old building is scheduled to be razed. Plans at Cabell require moving some of the circulating print collection to offsite storage to open space for construction on the fourth floor. 

Cabell Library will continue to have more than 400,000 volumes available on floors one and three along with more than 1.7 million ebooks. At Cabell, some books from the fourth floor will move to the third floor. Some third floor areas–including the microfiche files and reshelving areas–will be adjusted. Microfilm will be available on the first floor. Oversized books will move from the fourth to the third floor.

A total of 1 million volumes will move offsite: 300,000 from the Health Sciences Collection, 500,000 from the libraries’ current offsite storage facility, and 200,000 from low-use Cabell Library material. The temporary library location at Hunton Hall will house 500-1,000 volumes most needed to support clinical and curricular needs. 

Of particular import is the Health Sciences Library’s print collection. The collection is a significant and valuable asset that documents the history of medical practice in the Commonwealth and the South. It is one of the largest such print collections in the country. Moving this important material into a secured and environmentally controlled facility will ensure that the collection is adequately preserved for another century of use. For some time, the Health Sciences Library collections team has focused on adding access to digital content, but even in the digital age, these rare print materials are a treasure for researchers. 

Moving thousands of books, weighing tons, takes months of organization, careful management and a considerable budget. Throughout 2026, collections librarians and staff have been assessing which materials will be moved. Inventorying and barcoding volumes has been a time-consuming part of achieving readiness to move. 

Minimizing Disruption and Positive Changes for Users

While collections are being moved and unavailable, the VCU community can request these items through Interlibrary Loan. Library employees will be ready to assist researchers in finding materials they need either at VCU Libraries or other institutions. When the new offsite facility is fully operational, books and journal articles in storage will be speedily accessible. Researchers will request materials for delivery to either library building or as digital scans for articles and chapters. 

Work crews in both libraries will create some noise and activity. Ear plugs will be available at the service desks on both campuses. Notices will be posted to Instagram and to in-building digital screens alerting users to disruptions and noise.

These changes will ultimately bring some improvements to the user experience in Cabell Library. 

  • VCU Libraries’ new resource sharing system provides a unified experience for efficiently requesting items in storage and from other libraries.
  • Microfilm and microfiche and readers move from Cabell’s third to first floor. This opens up little-used space that will become more inviting to students with new seating arrangements.
  • New shelving will be installed for the heavily browsed oversized collection. Oversized books–many of them on art, design and architecture themes–move from the fourth to the third floor and will offer improved browsing to greatly benefit artists and students and faculty in VCUarts. 
  • The reimagined fourth floor will offer new spaces for students and the public, including a gallery offering museum-quality displays and exhibits and expanded spaces for teaching.