The Metropolitan Museum of Art recently announced the redesign of the Nolen Study Room located in the Thomas J. Watson Library. The space, which is accessible to the public, will house approximately 5,000 books reflecting the scope of the Mets collection on new open and browsable shelves. The new design will also enable a flexible and multipurpose space that can be reconfigured beyond a reading room to accommodate classes, presentations, seminars, and programs for students and museum visitors. The museum has selected the New York and Los Angeles based design firm Young & Ayata for the $3 million, 1,000-square-foot project. Watson Library and Museum Archives will close to the public on Wednesday, Oct. 29, and the new spaces are scheduled to open in late spring 2026. Watson Library is an incredibly vital resource for the public as well as Met staff and volunteers, and this important renovation of the librarys Nolen Study Room will provide innovative and refreshing design to complement the incredible collection of art publications, catalogues, ephemera and more, said Max Hollein, the Mets Marina Kellen French director and CEO. We are thrilled to work with Young & Ayata on this special project, and their design will make this enhanced space a jewel among the Mets libraries and research centers. The renovation and design project is an exceptional opportunity for the library. The plans evoke optimism for the future and reflect our commitment to providing a more welcoming, comfortable, and inspiring environment for library researchers and staff, commented Ken Soehner, the Arthur K. Watson chief librarian. The Nolen Study Room will replace Watson Librarys former Periodical Room. The circulation desk will also be redesigned to create a more inviting space for library visitors. The renovation will introduce architectural and design elements that honor and reinterpret the existing mid-century modern aesthetic. The original wood shelving will be preserved and reimagined into wall panels milled with a pattern inspired by traditions of paper marbling. As so much of our daily access to information has moved to online platforms, the extraordinary resources available to the public through the collection of Watson Library remind us how wonderful it is to explore physical material in the spaces of library reading rooms. We are thrilled to have a modest contribution to the ever-evolving architectural character of the Met and hope to create an inspirational atmosphere for scholars and members of the broader public invested in learning through the librarys collection, remarked the firm Young & Ayata. The Thomas J. Watson Library renovation project is made possible by many generous donors. The Met is fortunate and grateful to have such a devoted community of supporters. Thomas J. Watson Library is the research library of the Met and is one of the worlds most comprehensive art libraries with more than one million volumes. Watson Library, located on the museums first floor, was designed by Brown, Lawford and Forbes in 1962 and opened in 1965. The librarys holdings reflect the global and encyclopedic nature of the Met with books ranging in date from the late 15th century to current scholarship, in all fields covered by The Met. Last year, Watson Library added more than 15,000 titles in 65 languages, and the library features rotating exhibitions that highlight its collection as well as new acquisitions. The librarys mission is to support the research activities of the museum staff and to offer access and outstanding services to an international community of students and scholars.