Photo from Sustainable Harvard: https://twitter.com/GreenHarvard

When I moved to Boston in 2006, my first job was in a basement room of the Widener Library, the centerpiece of the Harvard library system. Though it’s been almost eight years since I left that job and I’ve worked in two different Harvard buildings since, Widener is the one that still feels like home.

This year marks 100 years since Widener opened to the Harvard community, and today there was a reception to celebrate the dedication of the library. There’s a whole fascinating story behind the library—I don’t have time to write it all out now, but there’s a lot of information on the Harvard Library’s Widener 100 page. You can also see some photos and videos from today’s celebration under the #Widener100 hashtag. Usually photos aren’t allowed in the building, so everyone is taking advantage of today’s celebratory atmosphere to document the experience.

Happy birthday, Widener. It’s still a thrill every time I get to walk through the stacks.