Another NASA spokesperson, Bethany Stevens, described it as a “consolidation” and not a closure, stating that it was the result of a long-planned reorganisation. She said this would save around $10 million annually, along with avoiding an additional maintenance cost of $63.8 million. The closure is a follow-up process that has led to the shutdown of seven other NASA libraries across the US since 2022, leaving only three NASA libraries operational nationwide from next week onwards.
The move has drawn concern from scientists and engineers who relied on the facility for mission planning and historical research. Planetary scientist Dave Williams described the role played by the library for engineers working on missions to the Moon and beyond. Dr Williams worked for the library, compiling and preserving scientific materials that were exclusive to the Goddard library. There were even some data in the library that is not available online, as older materials are yet to be converted into digital format.