Dibner Library Reopening

February 10, 2009 marked the Smithsonian Institution Libraries Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology reopening celebration. This rare books library was closed for over two years as part of the National Museum of American History renovation.  Close to 100 Smithsonian staff from around the Institution stopped by to join in the festivities and meet the Libraries new Head of Special Collections, Lilla Vekerdy.

The Dibner Library houses the Smithsonian’s collection of rare books and manuscripts relating to the history of science and technology. Contained in this world-class collection of 35,000 rare books and 2,000 manuscript groups are many of the most important works dating from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries in the history of science and technology including engineering, transportation, chemistry, mathematics, physics, electricity, and astronomy. The Dibner Library shares this collection with the public through exhibitions in the adjacent gallery, through loans to other institutions’ exhibits, and through public programs.