Phillips Library at Peabody Essex Museum to Make Holdings Available Online

The Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, MA, will undergo a two-year, $20 million modernization beginning this fall. The project will include building renovations and a program of cataloging and digitization.

"Scholars interested in working with our collection have historically had to conduct all of their research on site to have access to our unique holdings. Now they will be able to take full advantage of the library anytime they like from anywhere in the world," said Sidney Berger, the Ann C. Pingree Director of the Phillips Library, in a press release.

The library has 400,000 volumes and more than a linear mile of manuscripts acquired over two centuries. The museum collects works of art and culture from around the world, including contemporary and historic American, Asian, maritime, Oceanic, Native American, and African art and culture.

The Phillips Library is housed in the John Tucker Daland House and Plummer Hall - both of which will be renovated and restored by the Boston architecture firm, Schwartz/Silver Architects. Research spaces will be improved and an online platform will offer access to the library's holdings.