Even after the old-fashioned method of checking out books, journals and resources with cards catalogs ended at UW-Madison's Memorial Library in 1986, the library continued to house millions of cards on the second floor.
The collection will soon be removed to create space for new library services that will facilitate innovative research methods, the university announced Tuesday.
The university is removing 112 cases containing 6,700 drawers' worth of cards as part of an initiative called the Humanities Research Bridge. The initiative is a collaboration with the Division of Information Technology and the College of Letters and Science Learning Support Services.
While the millions of cards will be recycled, the university Surplus with a Purpose store will sell the majority of card cases to individuals in search of historical library items.
