The second floor suffers from a confusion of uses. It combines books especially those related to the fine arts our gallery, and our art collections. But by default it is also home to almost all of our public events. There are days when chairs, tables, and the other paraphernalia of meetings must be set up and broken down three times. This frays the nerves of our staff, disturbs patrons, and places our works at risk.
Security is also a major concern.
It makes little sense to bring upwards of 200 members of the public into crowded contact with books, sculpture, and paintings. The Print Room, also located on this floor, is currently one of our few climate-controlled spaces. Heat and humidity controls are especially important in this area. Our current system is worn out and demands constant attention. The second floor is a magnificent space, recently renovated with great care and skill.