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Catalyst
MSE Library Modernization Project
In this section
An ambitious renovation and thorough interior redesign of Milton S. Eisenhower Library will reinvent Johns Hopkins University’s flagship library as an inspiring and welcoming space for 21st-century learning and research.
MSE was an engineering feat when it first opened in 1964. 60 years later, the 182,000-square-foot building is overdue for critical upgrades to comply with modern building, safety, and accessibility standards. Its design was for a student body less than half the size of today’s, and whose study habits were different. Construction will begin in summer 2024 following a decade of preparation and planning that included students, faculty, and staff in establishing shared priorities and goals.
Key Design Priorities
Goals for MSE Library
Support student study in a welcoming environment
Provide collaboration rooms, quiet individual study seats, and dedicated graduate study study spaces.
Respond to the growing use of rare books and archives
Create a new home for Special Collections with appropriate space for research and teaching, and for showcasing unique materials.
Facilitate both digital and print-based scholarship
Create two new spaces: a Digital Scholarship Lab and Learning Studio and Material Collections Research and Teaching Center.
Establish significant exhibition capabilities
Create a dedicated exhibit space for the Homewood campus as part of a broader, revamped exhibition program.
Expand opportunities for engagement
Provide flexible event space to host programming related to exhibitions, speaker series, and faculty/library projects.
How we study, how we research, and how we do our work as a university is radically different from what it was in 1964. We’re looking to transform MSE into a modern library that meets modern needs.
Elisabeth M. Long
Sheridan Dean of University Libraries, Archives, and Museums
Project Timeline
| Feasibility Study final report | Fall 2019 |
| Program Planning | Fall 2021 |
| Schematic Design | Spring 2023 |
| Design Development | Winter 2024 |
| Construction Design | Spring 2024 |
| Construction begins | June 21, 2024 |
Transformation planned for Milton S. Eisenhower Library
The multiyear renovation will transform MSE into a more modern, accessible, and innovative resource for both digital and print-based scholarship at Johns Hopkins University
Image Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
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Will MSE Library be open during the renovation?
The MSE Library building is scheduled to close June 21, 2024 and remain closed for the duration of the project. All library services will be available during the renovation.
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Will Brody Learning Commons be open during the renovation?
Yes, Brody will remain open during construction. The Hutzler Reading Room in Gilman Hall will also be open.
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Will the renovated building occupy the existing structure or will there be an entirely new building?
Yes, the renovation will be within the existing footprint.
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Where are the books going? How can I access them during the renovation?
The books are being relocated to off-site storage and will be requestable through Catalyst, the Hopkins Libraries online catalog. Books on reserve will still be available on campus for short-term borrowing. We plan to do more delivery runs to ensure quick access to items during the renovation. There will be a new service point established on campus for book pick-up service. Some heavily-used reference collections from disciplines like Classics, Near Eastern Studies, and History of Art will be relocated to the Hutzler Reading Room.
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News and Media
- Transformation planned for Milton S. Eisenhower Library (April 2, 2024, Johns Hopkins Hub)
- Input sought for reimagined Milton S. Eisenhower Library (Sept. 16, 2021, Johns Hopkins Hub)