College of Wooster - Index Yearbook (Wooster, OH)

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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

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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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as they lay on the shelf, the current papers. Along another wall were a series of pigeon-holes which held the magazines. Across the floor were several rows of chairs screwed to the floor. ln front of each chair was a slant-topped desk on which to spread the book. The desk was not attached tothe floor but could be moved about. Just why there was this par- tiality in permanency of location of the furniture is not appar- ent.- mln the stack-room, as there were only three double- windows, it became so dark after three o'clock in the after- noon that it was necessary to light the lantern which hung on e e r a nail near the door. And when efrf -1'1 -r:- '--.r. P l . . . Q f' '-e.r.- 1 ettt ff' ' ,. 1 l ln search of a book the librarian 21i5sS t,i3,,f5q5fQgf'il' .i., F2 , , , was obliged to carry with him 1 af. V on :ristfjgstgunon a V . among the stacks, the lighted 1 I 1 'B1ifm2?tEHf5??g. . TE lantern. The tall wooden racks which held the books were partly responsible for the dimness of this room. These racks were so high that in order to reach the highest shelves it was necessary to climb a ladder. fllQ.And you ask was there a guide to linding the books. And we answer yes. Long before Poole's Index was published, the Wooster Library had a walking Index in the person of Dr. Davis, whose natural instincts as a librarian and book-lover made him ideally suited to such a library at such a time. These facilities, though simple, were, however, complete, and afforded, with a little less ease than at present, every opportunity to the diligent student to delve in the lore of the ages. fll.,This same library was an exceedingly convenient meeting place for lad and lassie. At the close of a recitation period, all Page eight