The Tauber Holocaust Library is an archive and non-circulating library of books and materials dealing with every aspect of the holocaust. It is managed by Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS), a nonsectarian, non-profit organization that provides a wide array of services for individuals, families and people of all ages. The JFCS Holocaust Center’s acquisition of an extensive library of books & materials from the Holocaust Center of Northern California necessitated the creation of a new home to accommodate the collection. Clusters of offices in an existing building were reworked to create one reading room, two archive rooms, and staff offices.
On a six-week schedule, we demolished and remodeled two offices to create the main reading room. Maple acoustical ceiling panels from the previous library were reused and reconfigured to create a dropped panel ceiling with new lighting fixtures. Reading and lounge chairs that were already on-hand were reupholstered. Display cases from the previous archive were retrofitted with casters, and modular tables were reused so that the room can be used for a variety of functions, from conferences and seminars to public access and education.