14th Floor Features and Policies
Features of the 14th floor:
- Plummer Hall Reading Room
- Memorial Hall
- 12 seat computer lab with presenter station
- Library Administration Offices
Food and drinks are not allowed in the Plummer 14 Reading Room.
There are break rooms on floors 2, 3, 11 and 14 (all with microwaves and some with refrigerators) if needed.
IDs must be visible at all times while in the library.
If you’re not wearing a Mayo photo ID, please stop at the Plummer 12 Circulation Desk.
Unattended items
Personal items should never be left unattended for security reasons. Items left at a computer for more than 15 minutes may be subject to removal if the computer is needed by another library patron.
14th Floor Hours
Plummer Reading Room and Computer Lab Hours
Mon-Fri 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Sat/Sun Closed
Plummer Library Reading Room (PL 14-00)
This stately room has had different names and served various purposes since the building opened. Originally known as the Assembly Room, it was used for weekly meetings of the Mayo Clinic Staff. In time the room was named Plummer Hall, which is carved in stone above the doors. The room is now used as a quiet reading space for Mayo Clinic employees and learners.
The Library Reading Room is an integral, working area of the library. It is educational space devoted to support of the educational, research, and clinical missions of Mayo Clinic. Preservation and delivery of quality library facilities and resources are the primary function. Learn more about the Library Reading Room in the brochure "The Plummer Building Fourteenth Floor."
Requests to use the Plummer Library Reading Room for any library or non-library sponsored purpose should be made using this request form. Requests will be limited to events involving Executive Office leadership, major benefactors, and the Executive Director of the Libraries and Historical Units.
Questions about reservations may be directed to Nicole Babcock.
Memorial Hall
Located directly across from the elevator doors on the fourteenth floor, this large marble wall is inscribed with the names of deceased Mayo Clinic Emeriti Staff, arranged chronologically according to year of death. The panels are made of Italian Travenelle Clair marble.
Smaller tablets flanking the marble wall honor deceased Emeriti Staff beginning in 1969 on the south wall and continuing chronologically on the north side.
The floor of Memorial Hall is made of Italian travertine, a type of limestone. The center of the floor features three inlaid bronze medallions symbolizing: darkness, wisdom and light.
Photograph Gallery
Apollo
The third medallion represents light and features Apollo, the Roman and Greek god of the sun, truth and healing. In Greek mythology, Apollo's son, Asclepius, is the god of medicine. The Rod of Asclepius, a snake entwined staff, is still used as a symbol of medicine and healthcare.
Minerva/Athena
The center medallion shows the goddess of wisdom, Minerva to the Romans and Athena to the Greeks. An owl associated with wisdom is perched at the goddess' feet, and she holds a spear symbolizing her patronage of warfare and justice.
Hermes Trismegistus
This medallion shows Hermes Trismegistus, representing darkness, and a deity of ancient mythology that combined aspects of Hermes, the Greek messenger god, and Thoth, the Egyptian god of the moon, science, writing and judgment.
Ceiling stencil
The ceiling was carved and painted by Francis X. Leinfelder, who carved the ceiling at his studio in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Global Exchange - Advancing medical education worldwide
Starting in the early twentieth century, physicians, scientists and nurses began coming to Rochester, Minnesota, to observe advanced surgical techniques from the Mayo brothers. Visitors called these educational sessions "the Mayos' clinic," which became the institution's official name in 1914.
The Mayo brothers also traveled extensively in the United States and abroad to share their knowledge, learn from their professional counterparts and experience diverse cultures. Today, Mayo Clinic is a global leader in serving patients, making medical discoveries that shape the future of healthcare and training new generations of healthcare professionals.
Medical Scholarship - Advancing the mission of patient care, education and research
As William J. Mayo, M.D., wrote, "The glory of medicine is that it is constantly moving forward, that there is always more to learn." Throughout its history and continuing today, Mayo Clinic has made significant contributions to advancing knowledge through patient care, education and research, the three core commitments that are depicted as interlocking shields in the Mayo Clinic logo. Medical scholarship at Mayo Clinic is enriched by the diverse perspectives and life experiences of staff and collaborators.
Maud Mellish Wilson - Founder of the Mayo Clinic libraries
Maud Mellish Wilson joined the Mayo practice in 1907 and served as founding director of the Division of Publications, including the editorial section, library and art studio. By collaborating with medical and scientific authors of the Mayo staff, she helped ensure the clarity, accuracy and precision of Mayo Clinic publications.
In 1926, she also founded "Mayo Clinic Proceedings," an internationally recognized medical journal. The Mayo brothers compared her professional contributions to those of Henry S. Plummer, M.D.
Her editorial leadership made it possible for Mayo Clinic to become known throughout the world as a center of excellence in academic medicine.
Teamwork in Education - Advancing the mission of patient care, education and research
Early in the history of Mayo Clinic, leaders recognized the importance of delivering education through visual images as well as the written word.
From 1912 to 1932, Eleanora Fry served as the head of the Art Studio at Saint Marys Hospital. As an administrator, Eleanora Fry developed a strong team of medical artists that adopted new technologies and upheld best practices. Their work became an integral part of articles written by Mayo Clinic physicians and surgeons. These publications communicated Mayo's innovations to the medical profession.
This legacy continues today, as Mayo Clinic develops medical innovations and provides education and information to advance the standard of care for people throughout the world.
PL 14-00 Reading Room
The Reading Room is a quiet, comfortable space for Library patrons to read and study.
Study area
Study tables on both sides of the room are flanked by large bookcases containing books written by Mayo Clinic authors.
Fireplace
The decorative fireplace, along with its ornate andirons, provides a warm and welcoming element to the room.
Memorial Hall ceiling
The ornate ceiling in Memorial Hall shows colorful stencils and wood carvings.
Dr. Henry Plummer portrait
A portrait of Dr. Henry Plummer, a Mayo Clinic physician and co-designer of the Plummer Building, is displayed above the fireplace mantle. The Library Reading Room was at one time known as "Plummer Hall" in his honor.
Mayo brothers' portrait
A portrait of Charles H. Mayo, M.D., (seated) and William J. Mayo, M.D., adorns the south wall. They are depicted wearing presidential robes of the American College of Surgeons.
Decorative windows
Stained-glass windows on the east side of the room feature imagery depicting medieval themes of heraldry and people from different walks of life.
Maud Mellish Wilson portrait
A painting of Maud Mellish Wilson, founder of Mayo Clinic Libraries, is displayed prominently on the north wall.