Crews were expected to begin hauling the library’s card catalog off to storage in September, 2001. It won’t be coming back. The library hasn’t maintained its paper index of holdings since 1987; instead, new entries have been added to the computerized records.
Holding the cards in storage is a precautionary measure in case something important on them didn’t make it into the computerized records. The area of the first floor where the wooden cabinets used to stand will be taken up by materials coming upstairs form the basement, which is being renovated.