We are excited to announce that a project to renovate and reinvent Hillman Library is moving forward!
The vision
Hillman Library will be the principal hub of intellectual activity on campus providing services, resources, and inspiring spaces—from vibrant to serene—that advance academic study, stimulate innovation in knowledge creation, encourage intellectual exploration and creativity, and foster energetic collaborative exchange.
The research
University Facilities and the ULS worked with research firm brightspot to: “… identify changes and future needs in academic research, learning, and teaching in order to generate opportunities for how spaces and services in Pitt’s academic library can respond to these future needs.”
Brightspot conducted focus groups, interviews, and surveys with Pitt faculty, and students, as well as library staff. This report is the result of that process and is one of many inputs into the process of designing spaces and services for a reinvented Hillman.
The basics
Because of the essential role it plays on campus Hillman will remain open for the duration of the renovation and, because of this, the renovation will take longer than it otherwise might. Currently, a target of five years is in place. During the renovation, all library collections will remain accessible, whether relocated within Hillman Library or via the Thomas Blvd. Library (the library off-site storage facility), and all library services will continue.
Preparation work for the renovation has begun so you can expect to see an increase in activity in the building along with some changes and relocations of collections and services as we lay the groundwork for the renovation. While some disruption is inevitable, we remain committed to providing the support at levels you have come to expect from the ULS.
Collection movement
In preparation for the renovation library collections in Hillman need to be either shifted within the building or moved to the Thomas Blvd. Library. Items in this facility can be requested and will be delivered to campus.
The work of moving collections began with the 4th floor, and is continuing with the remaining floors.
What's going where?
General Collection, call numbers A – Z
To Thomas Blvd. Library:
- Books published on or before 2010 which have never circulated
- Books published on or before 2005 that have not circulated since 2005
- Books published on or before 2005 that have circulated two or fewer times
Remaining Ps to Hillman Library Ground Floor Compact Shelving
Remaining Qs-Zs: To Engineering Library, Lower Level
2nd Floor East Asian Library moving soon to the 4th Floor.
For more information contact Haihui Zhang or Hiro Good.
1st Floor Reference Collection moving soon to the 3rd Floor.
Reference materials published on or before 2005 will be moved to storage unless they have been reviewed for retention or are part of a current standing order or series.
Ground Floor
To Thomas Blvd. Library:
- Government documents (minus Census materials which are staying in the Ground Floor Compact Shelving)
- Print journals (pre-1970) except for the browsing journals listed above
- Maps and map cases
- Microfilm and microfiche
What's moving?
The schedules below are tentative. Check PittCat to confirm location of items.
If your item is moving now or recently moved, please ask for assistance at the Donald S. Wood Service Desk or let us get it for you by following the Get it! link in PittCat.
Recently moved
- All Latin American Reading Room materials have been moved to Thomas Blvd. Library
- All Oversize books have been moved to Thomas Blvd. Library
- Call numbers A-CT moved to 3rd floor
- Call numbers K-N moved to 3rd floor
- Journals from 2017 to present and full run of select titles (Harpers Magazine, Life, The New Yorker) moved to 3rd floor
- Reference collection moved to 3rd floor
- EAL collections moved to 4th floor
- African American collection moved to 4th floor
Moving now
Graduate Study Spaces
PhD Dissertation Writing Room and Graduate Study Room on the 4th floor of Hillman Library will be closed to the public at the end of March 2021 as part of phase III of the renovation. More information can be found on the PhD Dissertation Writing Room or the Graduate Study Room page.
Ways to Give
You can be a part of the exciting renovation and reinvention of Hillman Library. Join us on our journey as we reimagine and renovate physical spaces, programs, and services to position Pitt students, faculty, and researchers for academic, career, and research success. Hillman Library is creating new open and group-study spaces, adding new technologies, engaging people with unique archives and the treasures of our special collections, and actively partnering librarians with students, faculty, and researchers in new ways to help them discover new resources, manage mountains of data; publish an online free journal, create a film, podcast, or virtual reality experience, and so much more. Hillman Library named gift and recognition opportunities are available.
Contact Renée Pekor, Director of Development, to learn more about how you can make a gift to help reinvent Hillman Library.
