The Yale University Library is the library system for Yale University. It has over 15 million volumes across more than 40 branch libraries located around Yale's campus. The library collection has moved several times throughout Yale's history as it outgrew previous buildings. In the early 20th century, the collection surpassed 1 million volumes, making it clear a new dedicated library building was needed. A $17 million donation was given for the construction of Sterling Library, which was completed in 1930 and remains the main library.

1. YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

2.  The Yale University Library is the library system of Yale University in
New Haven, Connecticut.
 In its general and special funds totaled more than 15 million units;
Library holds unique collections, archives, records, maps and other rare
artifacts. It is the third largest library of the United States and second in
the world among university libraries. A single computerized catalog has
more than 40 branch libraries located in different parts of the campus.

3. T H E L I B R A R Y M O V E D O F T E N D U R I N G I T S F I R S T 1 5 0 Y E A R S W H I L E T H E
C A M P U S ’ O L D B R I C K R O W W A S E R E C T E D . F R O M T H E A L L - T I M B E R C O L L E G E
H O U S E I T M O V E D T O T H E F I R S T C H A P E L , A F T E R I T S C O N S T R U C T I O N I N 1 7 6 3 ,
T O T H E N E W L Y C E U M B U I L D I N G I N 1 8 0 4 , T H E N T O T H E N E W S E C O N D C H A P E L
I N 1 8 2 4 . [ 1 1 ] T H E F I R S T D E D I C A T E D H O M E F O R T H E C O L L E C T I O N , T H E
C O L L E G E L I B R A R Y , W A S C O N S T R U C T E D B E T W E E N 1 8 4 2 A N D 1 8 4 6 A N D H E L D
T H E C O L L E C T I O N F O R A L M O S T N I N E T Y Y E A R S .

4. A S T H E C O L L E C T I O N S U R P A S S E D O N E M I L L I O N V O L U M E S I N T H E
2 0 T H C E N T U R Y, I T B E C A M E C L E A R T H A T T H E L I B R A R Y W O U L D
N E E D A N E W B U I L D I N G . I N 1 9 1 7 A $ 1 7 - M I L L I O N B E Q U E S T F R O M
J O H N W. S T E R L I N G , S T I P U L A T I N G Y A L E B U I L D " A T L E A S T O N E
E N D U R I N G , U S E F U L A N D A R C H I T E C T U R A L L Y B E A U T I F U L E D I F I C E , "
P R O V I D E D T H E M E A N S

5.  Beginning under the librarianship of Andrew Keogh in 1924, the library undertook a
purposeful program of collecting rare books, personal papers, and archival works. English
professor Chauncey Brewster Tinker mounted a campaign among Yale alumni to
purchase or donate valuable items, and early gifts included a complete copy of the
Gutenberg Bible, the papers of Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound, and the papers of James
Boswell.

6.  Having amassed a major rare books collection, the university established the Beinecke
Library in 1963 as a specialized rare books storage and preservation facility, and leaving
the Sterling Library’s former Rare Book Room with a more modest archival collection.