While the Edmon Low Library building has only been here since 1953, OSU has had a library since the institution began. For several years the Library collection was housed in various homes and office of the University faculty. It wasn't until 1894 that the Library found its first official home in Old Central. The Library shared a single room with the English department.
On Oct. 4, 1892, faculty member Edward F. Clark, professor of mathematics, became the first librarian of OAMC, serving in that capacity until July 1, 1894.
The first accession record book used by Clark is now held in the Archives at the OSU Library. On March 28, 1893, Clark recorded the first book accessioned in the library. It was a work of English literature written by Henry Kirk White entitled “The Poetical Works and Remains of Henry Kirk White with Life by Robert Southey.
The first books in the library featured a bookplate listing the book’s location and the five rules of the library.
Students, members of the Faculty and Board of Regents only shall be entitled to draw books from the Library.
Students shall not take from the Library any book labeled “Book of Reference.”
Books drawn must be returned to the Library within two weeks.
When books are lost or seriously injured the Librarian shall collect from the student doing such injury a sum of money sufficent[sic] to replace the book.
Applications for books must be made to the Librarian who will give needed information.
Williams Hall - the second home of the OSU Library
Frank A. Hutto, the sixth librarian of OAMC, served from 1899 to 1902. At the time of his arrival, the library held nearly five thousand volumes and was receiving 84 paid periodical subscriptions, 24 gratuitous periodical subscriptions and 89 Oklahoma newspapers courtesy of the publishers.
During Hutto’s tenure, he oversaw the move of the library collection from Old Central to the new building, which was completed in 1901. Originally known as the Library Building (renamed Williams Hall in 1937), the facility actually devoted only a small percentage of space to the Library. The Library moved to a 1,610 square foot room on its first floor. The area seemed spacious at the time; it was more than five times the space allocated in Old Central. The building was one of the first structures on campus to have electricity, so students could now study in the evening.
In the summer of 1902, Hutto shifted his full attention to the classroom and Cora Miltimore was promoted to librarian. She was the first woman to hold the position and the first appointee devoted solely to the role. Miltimore resigned in the summer of 1914; her term as head librarian was one of the four longest in the first 100 years of the institution’s history.
By 1914, an average of 900 students per day used the library. The hours of operation were expanded to 14.5 hours per weekday. That year, staff estimated the library held 19,000 bound volumes, more than 50,000 unbound pamphlets, and 50,000 unbound periodicals. That same year, the library was named a U.S. government documents depository.
The Library Building - the third home of the OSU Library
As the collection continued to grow, library space became an issue. By 1920, plans were underway for a new building designed by architecture faculty Fredrick W. Redlich and Joseph J. Patterson. In 1921, the first building devoted solely to the Library was completed. It was simply called the Library Building and was located 50 yards from Old Central. The 20,930 square foot building was a modified Italian Renaissance design.
The Library collection now numbered 38,000 bound volumes and 50,000 unbound periodicals. Just seven years later, collection growth was such that then-director Elsie Hand reported the stacks were overflowing and the building size was inadequate. In 1932, the English department moved to another building and the space devoted to the library was expanded. Hand reported the building would then “satisfactorily meet the needs of the student body for the next five years.” It would be another 21 years before the Library moved into its next home.
By 1949, the Library Building housed the Documents Department, Cataloging Departments, Order Department, librarian’s office, Reference Department and loan desk, but segments of the collection and select library services were distributed around campus. While then-director Edmon Low was attempting to consolidate the numerous departmental libraries around campus, the Veterinary Medicine Library was announced as a “permanent branch” in 1950.
Edmon Low Library - the current home of the OSU Library
President Henry G. Bennett came to campus in 1928 and developed a Twenty-Five Year Plan for campus development. The plan called for the campus to center around a new Library. President Bennett worked closely with then-Library Director Edmon Low to make the plans for the new Library a reality. The pair toured other university libraries and reviewed plans for the new building as it developed. It is even rumored that they were moving markers in the middle of the night before the ground breaking on May 28, 1950.
In 1953, the Edmon Low Library, with its elegant Georgian style, opened and quickly became a focal point for campus pride. It’s six floors were designed to house 1 million volumes and provide seating for 2,500. The building employed free-standing bookstacks allowing users to browse freely. In 1968, the north addition was completed, expanding the building’s size by 40%.
Roscoe Rouse, Jr. succeeded Edmon Low as university librarian upon his retirement in 1967. He is best known for bringing mechanization of library routines and information services to the Library. In 1975, the Library acquired the first computer owned by an academic library in Oklahoma.
The Library continued moving into the electronic age when Edward R. Johnson became dean of libraries in 1987. In 1991, under Johnson’s leadership the Library moved from the traditional card catalog to PETE, its first automated system. PETE was eventually replaced with the web-based OSU Library Catalog, and the Library now offers access to thousands of online full-text journals. In an effort to provide a computer lab environment in the Library, Johnson launched the incredibly successful student laptop checkout program.
Other student service success stories include improved Interlibrary Loan, the 2 a.m. weekday closing time and the 24-hour access for finals week. In an effort to restore the seating to storage ratio originally planned for the Library, Johnson also oversaw the purchase, renovation, and now the use of the desperately needed Library Annex. As he neared retirement, Johnson made several changes driven by the evolving roles of academic libraries. The ban on food and drink was lifted, and a cafe was added to the first floor of the Library.
Today, under the guidance of Dean of Libraries Sheila Johnson, the OSU Library is building a reputation for embracing new technology while maintaining a foundation of quality service. To this end, Johnson launched “The Library Futures” series. This multi-year program for Library employees brought in leaders from around the nation to share innovative programs and processes from their home institutions. These presentations served as a starting point for local conversations. The series goal was to create a flexible and responsive organization that can not only serve the needs of today’s campus but also anticipate future demands and rapidly respond as the campus evolves.
