- Miami University King Library
-
King Library is the main library of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The largest of four libraries on the Oxford campus, it serves as the primary library facility and center of administration for the Miami University Libraries [1] system. Currently, King Library is home to the Walter Havighurst Special Collections, the Center for Information Management (CIM)[2], Government Information & Law collection, Instructional Materials Center (IMC), Digital Initiatives [3], Technical Services, Access Services, Libraries Systems, senior administrative offices, and the Libraries' Preservation/Conservation Lab. King also serves as home to the Howe Center for Writing Excellence [4], as well as the King Cafe Coffee Shop.
King was extensively renovated through a three-phase rehabilitation project, beginning in the late 1990s and ending in 2007.
Originally built to be a central library facility with subject areas divided up by levels. By 1978, the Brill Science Library was added to the west wing of Hughes Hall, and science collections were transferred there to accommodate an ever-expanding collection.[5]
King Library 
King libraryGeneral information Type Library Architectural style Georgian architecture Location Oxford, Ohio Address 151 South Campus Avenue Country United States of America Coordinates 39°30′31.2″N 84°44′16.8″W / 39.508667°N 84.738°W Inaugurated 17 February 1973 Cost USD $3,574,000.00 Technical details Floor area 175,159 sq ft (16,272.8 m2) Design and construction Architect Frank L. Packard Website lib.muohio.edu Contents
History
In the early 1900s, the site of King Library was held by Hepburn Hall, a residence building for women. The shortage of housing forced some women to live in the attic about the third floor. Because some of the lights were defective, some residents had to strike matches to find their way and it was rumored that some women used the attic as a smoking lounge. Due to these circumstances, a major fire burned down Hepburn Hall on January 14, 1908.[6]
King Library was originally known as the King Undergraduate Library when the south section was completed in 1966. When the north section was completed in 1972, the word “undergraduate” was dropped from its name. Before King Library was built, Alumni Library was the used as the main university library. When King Library was completed in 1972, Alumni Library was changed to Alumni Hall.
When the library opened in 1966, sixty volunteer fraternity men transferred 40,00 volumes, pushing book trucks up and down ramps across the quad from the old Alumni library.[7]
The building was named after Edgar Weld King, who funded the construction. Dedication to Edgar King and the library was held on February 17, 1973 at King Library, where he gave a speech in front of the university.[8]
Construction
In total, King Library cost $3,574,000.00 to build. The architects used to build the south section were Lorenz and Williams and Lorenz and Williams and Lively and Likens constructed the north section. The general contractor for the south section was Frank Messer and Sons and the constructor for the north section was Danis. The south section was finished in 1966 and the north section was finished in 1972.[9]
The building consists of four floors: the basement, first floor, second floor, and third floor.[10]
Edgar Weld King
King Library was named after Edgar Weld King. He was born in Berlin, Germany on December 24, 1893. After earning an A.B. degree at Oberlin College in 1916, King received a diploma from the Library School of New York University New York University and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University Colombia University in 1922. That year, he was appointed librarian at Miami and served continuously until his retirement in 1956. In 1957, the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters Doctor of Humane Letters was conferred on him by Miami. During his tenure the library grew from 67,000 volumes to over 350,000 volumes.[11]
References
- ^ "Miami University Libraries". http://www.lib.muohio.edu. Retrieved 4 April 2011.Miami University Libraries
- ^ "Center for Information Management". http://www.lib.muohio.edu/computing/cim. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ "Miami University Libraries Digital Initiatives". http://digital.lib.muohio.edu/. Digital Initiatives
- ^ "Howe Center for Writing Excellence". http://writingcenter.lib.muohio.edu/.
- ^ Baer, Elizabeth H. (1997), The History of the Miami University Libraries, Oxford, Ohio: Friends of the Miami University Libraries, ISBN 0918761050
- ^ Baer, Elizabeth H. (1997), The History of the Miami University Libraries, Oxford, Ohio: Friends of the Miami University Libraries, ISBN 0918761050
- ^ Guide To King Library, Oxford, Ohio, 1973
- ^ King Library Dedication Program, Oxford, Ohio: Miami University Archives, 17 February 1973
- ^ Sessions, Judith A. (26 February 1997), A King Library Renovation, Oxford, Ohio: Miami University Archives
- ^ Miami University Physical Facilities, http://www.pfd.muohio.edu/index.jsp, retrieved 10 October 2010
- ^ Glos, R.E (1983), The Buildings of Miami University, Berlin: Miami University Archives
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