SIXTY YEARS OF INSPIRATION

At the dedication of the Beinecke Library on October 11, 1963, Edwin J. Beinecke shared remarks about his family’s monumental gif to Yale. He said, “We believe that this library will be a great step forward for the humanities, and it will give added impetus to the development of the human mind.” In building the library, he explained, “the Beinecke family has long believed that these treasures should be suitably cared for in safe and proper atmospheric conditions and used in the most modern manner.” He hoped that “research scholars from all over the world will come here to study, and that having created an inspired atmosphere they will absorb some of it unto themselves and thus it will enhance their studies.”

Our staff takes great pride in our efforts to realize the Beinecke family’s grand vision. We continue to innovate in collecting, preserving, and promoting discovery and access to our collections for the benefit of humanity. In our sixtieth year, we prioritized our users and caring for our collections. In this annual report, we detail how we have increased student engagement with our collections, modernized how users discover and access our collections, welcomed new audiences into the library, and invested in a more sustainable infrastructure for stewarding our collections. While this annual report highlights achievements relating to our strategic plan, we also celebrate the excellence of staff whose day-to-day work makes fulfillment of our mission possible.