Gladys Marcus Library
Special Collections Archive (SPARC)
SPARC holds a variety of materials, including fashion manuscripts, designer sketchbooks and scrapbooks, photos, bound periodicals, and illustration plates, notable for their rarity, value, aesthetic qualities, and/or fragility, and dating back to 1590. These materials have been held in conditions that were less than ideal.
SPARC, located on the fourth floor, was expanded and improved to appropriately care for its collections and to better serve the FIT community and the public. The renovations provide an ultramodern facility to preserve the collections, and enable FIT to continue to provide access to these invaluable resources. The project includes sustainable and energy-efficient elements, such as insulated windows, LED lighting, and recycled materials.
Improvements include:
- an archival collections facility with a climate-controlled environment
- a new reading room
- a preservation and conservation laboratory
Acquisitions and Metadata Services Office
The library’s Acquisitions and Metadata Services (AMS) Office, on the sixth floor, was renovated to improve its heating and air conditioning system, furniture, finishes, and lighting. The renovation included staff offices and work areas, an open meeting space, and intake and cataloging space.