History of Library Offsite Collections

During the summer of 2019, RIT Libraries began moving selected materials from Wallace Library to Library Offsite Collections.

Phase 1

RIT Libraries will move many of the bound periodicals (journals and magazines) from the 2nd floor of Wallace Library to Library Offsite Collections. The moving process will begin May 13, 2019 and is anticipated to take 10-12 business days.

Librarians have carefully examined the holdings of bound periodicals and selected some to stay in Wallace Library based on the following criteria: 

  • Current issues of journals and magazines
  • Journals and magazines that we continue to receive and retain in print
  • Journals and magazines that are heavily browsed for class assignments
  • Oversize journals and magazines

The RIT Libraries Catalog and Summon will both reflect the updated location of these titles after the move. Articles from any periodical in remote storage can be requested via IDS Express. Library staff will scan the materials and send them to requesters within one business day. If an entire volume is needed for research or multiple volumes are needed for a class assignment, faculty can work with their college librarian to arrange access in Wallace Library.

Phase 2

About half of the book collection on the 4th floor of Wallace Library will move down to the 2nd floor, including Oversize/Huge books, Portfolios, and books in the call number range A-HD31. This is expected to begin in June 2019. The space vacated by these books on the 4th floor will be converted to temporary faculty offices for the start of the Fall 2019 semester. Study rooms located on the 4th floor will remain available for student use. Additional study space will be accommodated on the 3rd floor during Phase 3 of this project.

Phase 3

Select books currently housed on the 3rd and 4th floors of Wallace Library will be moved to Offsite Collections. Beginning in August 2019, subject librarians will determine which titles will be moved and which will remain in Wallace Library based on usage, course assignments, accreditation needs, and recommendations. The material was moved over the summer of 2020.

Phase 4

It was determined that our Microforms collection would be housed in Off Site Collections.  The content of our microfilm and microfiche collections was moved in May of 2021.   

Phase 5

Selected books, collections and ephemera from the Cary Collection and RIT Libraries were moved over in the Fall of 2022. 

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