College of Wooster - Index Yearbook (Wooster, OH)

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THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY HE substantial and steady growth of the library of our beloved college gives assurance that it will Q' always keep abreast of the rest of the institution. fLAway back in the beginning of things when the college fathers were planning the Alma IVIater which we have come to love so well, they foresaw the great advantage to be derived from a good collection of books. Being without the means with which to purchase books they appealed to the friends ofthe embryonic institu- tion. It was at this crisis that Charles S. Bragg, of the book-publishing lirm of Van Antwerp 8C Bragg of Cincinnati, came forward with the offer of S5000 worth of booksg the selection to be made by the faculty. p Thus was laid a solid foundation of the best books. fIIi.These books occupied a part of President Lordis olilice, which was the south-west room on the first - fff, -I Hoor of the Qld University. The of Ial lllll l c I l llia llll the Pfesbyfefian ,. Y. church soon came L- ii Q T to be whole heartedly in sympathy with the movement to establish a college at Wooster and to provide it with a well- stocked library. As a result, the bequests and donations of Page six

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not forget the precepts of his mother. So that in 1900, Mr. Friclc demonstrated his faith in the substantial and practical Christian culture for which Wooster stands, by erecting to the memory of his parents a 335,000 Library Building for the University. This noble edifice stands as an enduring monument to his filial affection lor those who were the early guides of his life. And henceforward these three names and the influence of their lives shall be for- ever linlced with the University. fli,When Mr. Friclc presented the Library building he had it so constructed that an addition the same size as the original structure might be added, and the symmetry still be maintained. The time for the fulfillment of the promise is at hand. The stack-room is overflowing. And Mr. Fricl-c is as good as his word. So it happens that in the spring of 1906, we again hear the clinlc of the trowel, the strolce of the hammer, and the hum oi the saw, as our beau- tilul Library in its sublime simplicity nears completion. fl, Happily, indeed, has the architect wrought into the mass- ive walls of this building those qualities of stately grandeur and modest steadfastness which characterize the donor, himself. fli.Built to endure, the University Library shall stand forever a memorial of lilial reverence and a tolcen of the esteem in which our college is held by our friend and benefactor, Mr. Henry Clay Friclc. Page Eve

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.:. ,,f fifillllltl' il. Z -ll.Q1Il- lllllimllgllli,fIItillil.M,t-ll.Hlll.,lmijlul- ..........,.-...ga ,fm - A' -vm- boolcs so increased their number that an entire room was set apart to accommodate the fast growing library. This was the south-west corner room on the second floor. lllf.Around this nucleus there had accumulated such a large collection of books by 1892, when the wings were added to the Old Building, that the library again expanded, appropriating the whole second floor of the west wing. The room in the wing was used as the reading room, while the old room con- tinued to be used as the staclc-room. These two rooms pro- vided a home for our cherished hoard of head-gold until 1900, when our present beautiful structure was erected. flLNor did this second story shelter leave nothing to be desired. Nor should you think of the arrangement of its interior as of recent and modern equipment. Attached to one wall was a row of slanting shelves on which were displayed the daily newspapers. The papers were held in place by a cord, running down the middle fold and fast- ened at the wall and at the outer edge of the shelf. So one must needs stand to con the daily news. Here were seen at times a whole row of students standing along the wall eagerly perusing, Page seven