As the campus continued to grow, the need for library space once again became an issue. The Carnegie Library, built in 1905, became cramped and many volumes and documents were stored in departmental libraries and offices. In 1938, the College sent a proposal to the office of the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.)in Omaha, Nebraska asking for $200,000 towards the construction of a new library. The proposal was not accepted by the W.P.A. (Beacon Across the Prairie, p. 175-176). In 1944, Mr. Elliot Hardaway was appointed the head librarian with the understanding that a new building would be constructed as soon as possible. He, along with Professor Knute A. Henning, drew up plans for the new building while administrators tirelessly sent proposals for funds. The College was unsuccessful in its attempt to secure the necessary funds to begin construction on a new library. In 1947, with the new building still three years away, Mr. Hardaway resigned. Mr. H. Dean Stallings succeeded Hardaway in 1947, and the plans for a new building continued.
The new building funds were the result of the 1945, 1947, and 1949 legislatures. Two hundred thousand dollars was granted in 1945, another $200,000 in 1947, and in 1949, the legislature appropriated $100,000 for equipment. Architect William F. Kurke abandoned the Hardaway and Henning plans, and instead authored the plans for a modular building with ample space. Construction began in 1949, and the building that NDSU students currently know as the library was dedicated on October 6, 1950, with Dr. Ralph Ellsworth from the University of Iowa providing the dedication remarks. Spreading over 58,000 square feet and with a capacity to seat 500 students and house 300,000 volumes, the building was praised for its functional design that included reading rooms, staff and faculty lounges, conference rooms, multiple study unit cubicles, an order and catalog department, a periodical checking room, public card catalogs, and a circulation area, among many other fully functional rooms.
In 1951, the university offered licensing in library science for juniors and seniors majoring in education. The license would enable the graduates to fill in as a librarian in smaller high schools. This program lasted until 1971, but courses in library science and research are still offered. In 1952, the 100,000th volume was donated to the library by NDSU botanist Dr. O.A. Stevens. In 1966, H. Dean Stallings left the post as head librarian, and Mrs. Barbara Wetterstrom became the acting director of the library during the 1966-1967 school year. In 1967, Mr. Kilbourne L. Janacek was appointed the director of the library, and many changes took place. In the late 1960s, the Dewey Decimal System was abandoned in favor of the cataloguing system of the Library of Congress, which freed time and energy for the library staff and students. The architecture, chemistry, and pharmacy libraries came under the main library administration in 1969, creating the branch libraries. The North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies became part of the library in 1975.
In
1973, students began a drive for a new library. Calling themselves the "Cream
of the Crop," the students offered a novelty of a $100 cream can chair. No one
actually bought a chair, rather the $100 was a donation towards the new library
and was paid in a lump sum or with a five-year pledge (Fargo Forum, "Creamcan
Chairs Are Used to Spur SU Library Drive," April 4, 1973).
In 1975, the University made a proposal to the State Legislature asking for approximately $3,500,000 for a 78,000 square foot addition to the Library. The Legislature appropriated $2,000,000, which was enough for a 50,000 square foot addition. The addition was dedicated on May 23, 1980. It added 41,000 square feet to the existing Library giving the building nearly 100,000 square feet of space. The entire project took two years and cost $2,700,000 due some remodeling done to the original structure (Proposal for a Library Addition, University Archives Building Files, Box 1, Folder 11; Spectrum, September 9, 1980).
On May 23, 1980, thirty years after the original library was built, the new addition was dedicated. Dr. Beverly P. Lynch from the University of Illinois was the featured speaker, and both she and Senator Quentin N. Burdick were given honorary doctorates from the university. The addition accommodated up to 700 readers and could house 400,000 volumes as well as government documents, maps, periodicals, audio-visual materials, and microforms. The addition also included a self-contained 24-hour study room. That same year, staff began developing an on-line system of cataloguing.
In
1986, after 19 years of service as the director of libraries, Mr. Janacek retired.
Mr. John W. Beecher succeeded him and served as director for 11 years. Beecher
supervised a reorganization of the library in 1988 that focused on service and
the integration of the latest technology. After his resignation in 1997, Dr.
Richard W. Bovard, professor of English, was appointed as interim director.
In June 2000, Pamela Drayson was hired as director. Shortly after becoming director, Dr. Drayson faced a crisis. During the night of June 19 and the morning of June 20, 2000, three supercells dumped over seven inches of rain on the Fargo-Moorhead area. Every building on campus sustained damage, but the library was hardest hit. The windows on the basement of the new addition broke flooding the basement with over three feet of water. For the next four years Dr. Drayson focused her attention on rebuilding the library. The library has made wonderful progress towards a full recovery.
Today, servicing a student population of over 12,000, the library houses over 1,000,000 items including books, periodical subscriptions, maps, government documents, audio-visual materials, and microforms.
Architectural Information
"Modern style; two stories; yellow Hebron brick; ribbon windows with dark gray polished marble panels. William F. Kurke, architect." (Natiobal Register of Historic Places Inventory, Summer 1982, p. 6)
   |
univarchives@www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu
University Archives, 701-231-8914 Published by the University Archives, NDSU Last Updated: 10/19/05 |