New library buildings. Part VIII. The Library of the Health Sciences, University of Illinois at the Medical Center, Chicago.

The new Library of the Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at the Medical Center is described and illustrated. The building was under construction for thirteen months, using phased construction techniques, and opened in October 1973. The library is a self-contained and physically independent building consisting of three levels above ground and one lower level, comprising an area of 130,000 sq. ft. gross and 88,000 sq. ft. net. The building provides space for 350,000 volumes, 1,037 readers, and a staff of 100. The cost of construction was $5,140,500 plus $858,500 for furnishings and equipment. Among the special features are a twenty-four-hour multimedia services department and a full-circulating style book detection system. Included in the article is an evaluation of the library after two years of occupancy.