The Stacks: Bodies of Work opens the doors to the reference collection stacks at Hull Libraries, and examines a hidden accumulation of literature, records, surveys and maps, de-allocated from view by perceptions of value and public interest. An initial six-month research residency enabled a unique investigation into the vulnerability of written histories, through the lens of the reserve stocks and material in the labyrinthine structures - hammered metal echo-chambers walled by peeling 60’s pastel paint, lit by a gallery of waning amber bulbs and shards of grey light from Edwardian windows - behind the lending libraries that are open to the public every day.

The documentary nature of The Stacks pilot project, presented across Hull Central and branch library settings in 2021, embraces the value of process, chance occurrence, and allows for unexpected connections to be made in counterpoint between written materials separated by time, belief, and perspective, surrounding topics associated with Public Health.