In 1977, the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, opened a new area for the reserve collections of textiles and prints and drawings. A room was designated in 1975 and the plan allowed for office space, study rooms and a small conservation room as well as storage areas. The entire area is air conditioned; solar control films have been applied to the windows. The old storage systems of cupboards for the textiles had proved satisfactory and were moved to the new area with some improvements. The prints and drawings required a new system and are now housed in Solander boxes with wooden island units. -- AATA