Browse funds

Established in 1997 by an anonymous donor, in memory of Gilbert Ehrenkranz, for the preservation of library materials.

Funds from the Library's preservation-focused endowments allowed us to conduct several critical initiatives and activities over the past three years, the most significant of which is the renovation of the Special Collections Conservation Lab at the John Hay Library. Planning began in October 2022, immediately following the hire of Roger Shaw Williams, inaugural Head of Libraries and Conservation, a role shared between the Brown University Library and the John Carter Brown Library. The renovation itself started in October 2023, with an expected completion in early 2024. The lab will feature four new workspaces for Roger plus conservation technicians and students and interns. Additionally, the space will have vastly improved lighting, a quieter HVAC system, a new water filtration system, flexible bench and worktables, a dedicated photo documentation space, and improved storage. All of these enhancements will elevate the on-site conservation and preservation capabilities that maintain the world class collections of both the University Library and the John Carter Brown Library.

Other highlights include:

Support of the 2022 and 2023 HBCU Library Alliance Summer Preservation internships

Digitization of more than 80 items from the Julie Adams Sandberg and American Dance Legacy Initiative Archive that were previously contained within outdated formats: reel to reel film, mini digital video disks, Umatic and VHS tapes