Rush Rhees Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rush Rhees Library |
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| Established | 1927 |
| Location | 500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd., Rochester, NY USA |
| Branch of | River Campus Libraries System |
| Website | Rush Rhees Library |
Rush Rhees Library is the main library at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. It's a very famous building on the university's River Campus. Building started in 1927, and the library opened in 1930. It's named after Benjamin Rush Rhees, who was the university's third president.
A big new part was added in 1970. This new section has a computer lab, more bookshelves, and offices. Rush Rhees Library is the most important library in the River Campus system. This system has about 3 million books! The library even has an elevator from 1930 that still works today.
Rush Rhees Tower: Home of the Carillon
The Rush Rhees Tower is very tall, standing about 57 meters (186 feet) high. Inside the tower, you'll find the Hopeman Memorial Carillon. This is the biggest musical instrument in Rochester. It's also one of only six carillons in New York State.
The carillon has 50 bells that came all the way from the Netherlands. These bells are very heavy, weighing over 3,000 kilograms (6,600 pounds)! The carillon plays music every 15 minutes. Students and special guests also give concerts each week. There's even a special concert series every summer.
Rossell Hope Robbins Library: Medieval Treasures
On the fourth floor of Rush Rhees Library, there's a special place called the Rossell Hope Robbins Library. This library has a collection of more than 20,000 books about the Middle Ages. You can't check these books out, but you can read them there.
The collection includes books about Middle English literature. It also has books on Old English, Anglo-Norman, and medieval French stories. You can learn about medieval history, philosophy, and art here too. There are even books about old manuscripts, witchcraft, and stories about King Arthur and Robin Hood.
This amazing collection was given to the library in 1987. It was donated by a medieval expert named Rossell Hope Robbins and his wife, Helen Ann Mins Robbins.
