Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is an academic archive for rare books at Yale University in New Haven, United States. At the center of the marble building rises a six-story glass tower that stores one hundred eighty thousand volumes under controlled temperature conditions.

The building opened in nineteen sixty-three through funding from the Beinecke family to house the growing university collection. That collection began in seventeen hundred and one when ten ministers donated their books, forming the foundation for what would become Yale.

The building houses an original Gutenberg Bible from the mid-fifteenth century alongside the mysterious Voynich manuscript, which scholars have attempted to decode for decades. Visitors can view these treasures in the reading room, where they sit among an extensive collection of American literature holdings.

The building operates Monday through Friday, staying open until seven PM on most days, with advance registration required for material access. The outer walls of Vermont marble filter daylight, allowing visitors to experience the interior without direct sun exposure.

The outer walls consist of Vermont marble panels about one and a quarter inches thick (3.2 cm), which allow natural light inside without damaging sensitive books. These translucent slabs give the space a soft, filtered brightness that shifts throughout the day.

Location: New Haven

Inception: 1963

Architects: Gordon Bunshaft

Official opening: October 14, 1963

Architectural style: modern architecture

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Part of: Yale University Library

Address: 121 Wall St, New Haven, CT 06511

Email: beinecke.library@yale.edu

Website: https://beinecke.library.yale.edu

GPS coordinates: 41.31161,-72.92722

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:23