Cornell's entomology collection is divided between Mann Library and the Comstock Memorial Library of Entomology. Over the next two years, the Comstock library facility will close, and its collections and services will be consolidated into Mann by 2011 or 2012 -- uniting the whole collection under one roof.

Mann Library will continue to collect new entomology materials and fully support the existing collection with resources and staff. The library in Comstock is staffed entirely by students, all of whom will be absorbed into Mann's student workers group, and no entomology materials will be relocated to the Library Annex.

This change creates several benefits for library users. Thanks to Mann's longer hours, physical access to the collection will increase from 40 hours per week during the academic semesters (and 30 hours per week during summer and winter breaks) to 104 hours per week.

Also, the library will digitize a significant portion of the entomology collection. This step provides online access for the Cornell community and researchers around the world, enhancing the visibility of the entomology department.

"The Entomology Library is one of the finest entomological collections in the country, and our dedication to it can't be overstated," said Anne Kenney, the Carl A. Kroch University Librarian. "It is important to understand that although the physical facility is shutting its doors, we will keep actively building the collection -- and that, by moving the collection to Mann, we will actually enhance our stewardship of the collection."

An implementation taskforce composed of entomology faculty, other faculty and researchers, students and library staff will help with the transition and determine digitizing priorities, collection move timelines and other implementation details. Taskforce members will also seek input from the Entomology Library community as planning progresses.

The process leading up to this decision was extensive, beginning with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the library initiating a review of the Entomology Library and creating a review document for public comment. After gathering input from stakeholders and assessing many factors -- including necessary physical repairs, usage statistics and impact on an extended community of users -- the recommendation was approved by the Library Faculty Board; Susan Henry, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Kenney; and the provost.

"Extensive digitization will make this world-class collection available worldwide 24/7 and enhance the visibility of the entomology department," said Henry. "This decision is consistent with Cornell's philosophy of serving as a land-grant university to the world."

The Entomology Library has been under review as part of the university's and library's strategic planning process. How its space will be used has not yet been determined.

"We know that systematics researchers and taxonomists need access to the literature of entomology as close as possible to the insect collection in Comstock Hall," said Janet McCue, associate university librarian for teaching, research, outreach and learning services. "Our current plan is to digitize as much of the insect taxonomy literature as possible, so that they will have 24/7 access, and make it available online before a single item in the collection moves to Mann."

To discuss the implementation or any other aspect of the consolidation, contact Mary Ochs, director of Mann Library, at mao4@cornell.edu, or Ed Weissman, assistant to the university librarian, at esw3@cornell.edu.

Gwen Glazer is a staff writer at Cornell University Library.