AIP Niels Bohr Library & Archives–Preservation and Stewardship of the History of Physics

FAIN: PF-260946-18

American Institute of Physics, Inc. (College Park, MD 20740-3841)
Melanie J. Mueller (Project Director: December 2017 to October 2022)

The renovation of underground storage space to provide improved preservation conditions and future growth space for the Niels Bohr Library and Archives, a repository of published and unpublished sources documenting the history of physics, astronomy, geophysics, and related physical sciences.

The AIP Niels Bohr Library & Archives requests an NEH implementation grant of $300,000 for the purpose of improving our capability for long-term stewardship of our collections. This proposal outlines our existing storage areas and related challenges, and our resulting plan for expanded storage for rare books and archival collections. We will retrofit an existing secure space with high density shelving and mechanical systems to create a new vault storage area for rare books and archival materials. NBL&A and AIP staff will partner with team of consultants (preservation environments, architecture, engineering, shelving, and other infrastructure needs) to create the most appropriate and sustainable preservation plan for the proposed vault. After the construction phase is complete, NBL&A and AIP staff will continue to work with dedicated professionals to monitor the environmental controls of the new vault space, to ensure optimal performance for preservation as well as energy efficiency.