‘Small But Mighty’: UT Libraries Celebrates Groundbreaking for New Storage Annex

Leaders from University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and University of Tennessee Libraries gathered May 29 to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Library Storage Annex, a building that will house the treasures of UT Libraries for long-term preservation.

The new facility will help protect the Libraries’ holdings and also free up space at the three libraries—Hodges, DeVine Music, and Pendergrass Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine—for study, research, and for additional informal learning spaces that emphasize experiential learning and immersive technologies.

“I’m excited because for the first time we’re building a storage facility that is equal to the quality of the magnificent collections we hold,” said Dean of Libraries Steve Smith. “Our collections won’t survive unless they’re properly stored. There are a number of more imposing buildings under construction on campus this year. However, this small but mighty project is of utmost importance to the university.”

The 16,000-square-foot storage facility on Middlebrook Pike is being built about five miles from the main campus and will provide consistent temperature and humidity controls, which would safeguard the Libraries’ most fragile holdings.

Storage Annex Vital to Libraries’ Mission

The annex will be home to special collections materials; the University of Tennessee Archives; the Modern Political Archives; important but little-used items from the general collections; and other library materials that require long-term preservation.

It also would also house unique offerings such as a trove of vinyl records that will be available for borrowing.

Once completed, patrons can request items from the Storage Annex and they will be delivered to campus, usually within one day.

“As a land-grant university, UT has an obligation to current and future generations to preserve the history and culture of our state,” said Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Paul Byrnes. “Many of the collections that will be housed here embody that history and culture. Preserving and sharing those primary sources with scholars from around the world advances the stature of our institution.”

In preparation for the move to the Storage Annex, staff about two years ago began a comprehensive evaluation of the Libraries’ holdings, said Holly Mercer, senior associate dean of libraries.

As a result of the evaluation and to better serve users’ needs, Libraries staff removed from the collection items that rarely circulate, that are duplicated, outdated, or that are widely available through shared agreements with other libraries. Some important but lesser-used books will relocate to the Storage Annex when it opens. The review also helped Libraries staff identify some previously unrecognized rare items in the general collection that will be transferred to the facility.

For many years, the Libraries stored its materials in the old Hoskins Library, where dust, water leaks and mold damaged some of the holdings.

“We are having to clean each item before it is sized and placed in the Storage Annex,” Mercer said. “So, there is a long and arduous process ahead of us even after the Storage Annex has been completed. But we are grateful that we have begun that journey.”

On Thursday, Smith, the Libraries dean, was joined at the groundbreaking ceremony by Mercer; Byrnes; Steve Starnes with UT Capital Projects; Haniska Prinston with UT Facilities Services; Tyler Schlandt, manager of Libraries Facilities; and Abi Johnson, a library student worker in Special Collections.

Sparkman and Associates Architects designed the Library Storage Annex and Blaine Construction is in charge of the build.

The project is estimated to cost $15 million and is expected to be completed in late summer or early fall of 2026.