The Starr East Asian Library is delighted to announce the opening of the recently-renovated west wing of our Reading Room.
In a special ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Columbia Vice Provost & University Librarian Ann Thornton, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Eugenia Lean, faculty from the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, and other CUL friends and colleagues, Starr Library Director Jim Cheng heralded this milestone in the history of the library by acknowledging the vision, planning, and work behind the transformation. He also welcomed the university community to use and enjoy the new space.

The west wing of the library was previously used as a workspace for East Asian Technical Services staff for the receiving, cataloging, and processing of library materials. In July of this year, our technical services operations were moved to Butler Library, offering a rare opportunity for the opening up of study areas for Starr. The newly-opened wing accommodates an additional 36 seats in our already highly popular Reading Room. Lounge chairs and handsome new tables with personal lighting, combined with bright light from oversized windows and the warm richness of the library’s distinctive wooden interior create a bright, comfortable, inviting environment for quiet study and research.