In 1963, the Library Building – now Gillham Hall and the home to the Judith Herb College of Education – struggled to seat a growing student body and to house a collection that had more than doubled since the building opened in 1953. In response, in September 1963, President William S. Carlson appointed a Library Building Committee to “study, suggest, and obtain ideas from other faculty members regarding library facilities for the University of Toledo which will meet immediate needs and which will also anticipate, as far as possible, the needs of the future.” An early suggestion to meet those needs included building an addition to the south side of Gillham Hall.
However, since the committee’s formation, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Library Services and Construction Act P.L. 88-269 (LSCA), which opened up federal money specifically for library buildings, allowing the committee to consider a new building. This consideration prompted President Carlson to suggest to Library Director, Patrick Barkey, to appoint a Library Building Program Committee to advise the library and the architect during the writing of a building program.
In September 1968, after selecting Munger, Munger and Associates as the architects, the Library Building Program Committee drew up the University Library Program, Phase I and Phase II. It outlined the following:
- The needs of an urban university library
- Requirements for an open stack plan
- Location on campus
- Estimated collection growth
- Reader statistics and consequent seating needs
The project had a $7 million price tag - the “most costly single construction project in the University’s history…” - and commenced with the groundbreaking on December 4, 1970, with trustee J. Preston Levis and President Carlson turning a symbolic spade of earth.
On August 3, 1972, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to dedicate the library in President William S. Carlson’s name. Carlson Library was one of the biggest among state schools when it opened in April 1973. Its formal dedication took place on November 16, 1973 and included late morning/afternoon events of a luncheon and tours, and evening events of an open-house and presentation of the one-millionth volume added to the University Libraries’ collection.
“The structure, by its size, purpose, and location will become one of the most important buildings on campus. Its architecture will be contemporary but has most successfully captured the collegiate Gothic campus flavor. The Gothic idiom design factors, Angular Roof Forms, Vertical Lancet Windows, Rectilinear Towers, Symmetrical Projections, have all been integrated into this exciting and fresh architectural concept”
Library Building Program Committee
Preliminary plans presented to the Board of Trustees
June 10, 1969
Exhibits
The exhibits in Chapter Three appear in three parts: flat case, cabinet, and wall displays.
University of Toledo Library Program Analysis (1968).
Press release about the Board of Trustees' approval of the library plans (1969)
Munger Munger & Associates were selected at the architects for the new library. As part of Phase I, they designed a facility that would house up to 1.5 million volumes, served 6,500 students at a time, and provide 4.5x the floor space as the present library building, with an expectation that it would adequately serve the University of Toledo’s needs through 1980. Phase II would allow for an addition. Although some changes were made at the suggestion of the Library Building Program Committee, the plans were ultimately approved by the Board of Trustees on June 10, 1969.
Preliminary Library building program – a tentative outline (1967)
At the convening of the Building Program Committee, Director Barkey submitted a preliminary plan, outlining the expectations of a urban university libraries, and building concepts.
Appointment of Building Program Committee (1967)
By the time of the arrival of the first Library Director, Patrick Barkey, little had been done to address the library space problem. At Barkey’s suggestion, President Carlson appointed a committee to write a building program, setting aside a previous suggestion of an addition to the current library.
Minutes from the first meeting of the Library Building Committee (1963)
Plans for Addition to the University of Toledo Library (1964)
A decade after the construction of the Library Building, concern about space arose. In order to address the issue – which included a lack of seats for students, limited storage for collections, and no office space for staff – the Library Building Committee looked towards solutions. One solution included building an addition to the existing library.
Part 1 Part 2 (below) Part 3
Part 2. Top Shelf: From Groundbreaking to Opening
Skip to: Middle Shelf Bottom Shelf
YouTube Video: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New University Library, December 4, 1970
(Black-and-white original with sound and closed captioning)
Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on December 4, 1970 at the Student Union. President Carlson and J. Preston Levis, chairman of the Board of Trustees, tossed a shovelful of dirt over the construction site.
Opening of the New University Library (1973)
Carlson Library opened in April 1973, ahead of schedule. The move from the old library building, of a million volumes, thousands of documents, periodicals, microfilm, and equipment, commenced in mid-March. As one of the newest and largest libraries among state schools, it impressed both students and the community.
The library was officially dedicated on November 16, 1973.
Part 2. Middle shelf
Part 2. Bottom Shelf: Geophysical Globe (1972-1973)
A feature still found in Carlson Library today is the Geophysical Globe, designed by Rand-McNally. At the request of the Department of Geography and with full support from President Carlson, Library Director Patrick Barkey reserved a space in the new building on the first floor, across from Circulation. At a cost of approximately $20,000, the globe was installed during the summer of 1973.
This series of elevations was developed by architect Munger Munger & Associates as early concepts of the future William S. Carlson Library.
Contact
Request Appointment
The Center welcomes researchers by appointment only.
We accept appointments Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Phone
419-530-4480
Virtual exhibition inquiries:
419-530-4497
CanadayCenter@utoledo.edu
Virtual exhibition inquiries:
Arjun.Sabharwal@utoledo.edu
