The history of the University Library has been closely associated, as is
only natural, with the growth of the Literary College, and it is proper
to include a word about the Library in this place. The appointment of
the first Librarian in 1837 did not make a library, and for many years
the fine but small collection of books gathered in Europe by Professor
Gray was housed in different places about the Campus and was used only
as a circulating library--open for one hour each week for the use of the
professors and students. However a note in the library regulations to
the effect that: "The present instructors are of opinion that there are
very few of the books in the library which would be useful to students,"
seems to limit even this function of the little collection. All this was
changed in 1856 when the whole North Wing was set apart as a Museum and
Library. Here for the first time, the books were properly shelved and
arrangements made for their daily use in an adequate reading-room under
the charge of Dr. Tappan's son, John L. Tappan, who took charge as the
first real Librarian. He arranged the books scientifically and began the
first card catalogue.
Almost at once the Library sprang into a new place in University life.
Not only did President Tappan make the Library one of his first
interests, but the Regents came to realize the desirability of regular
support. This inaugurated a period of ever-increasing growth, which has
placed the Library well to the front among American college libraries.
Progress at first was rather slow, only about 800 volumes were added
each year up to 1877, when the Librarian reported that there were almost
24,000 volumes in the collection. Not very large even then; but the rate
increased from that time, rapidly, and at the present time the Library
numbers some 430,000 volumes including the departmental collections.
In 1877 the Legislature was brought to see the imperative need of an
adequate library and made a special appropriation of $5,000, which was
renewed every two years, and even gradually increased, until in 1891 the
amount appropriated was $15,000, with a grand total over a period of
fifteen years of $79,000. These biennial appropriations ended in 1893
with the increase of the mill-tax from one-twentieth to one-sixth of a
mill. This enabled the Regents to double the income of the Library,
making it $15,000 annually. The income increased gradually until the
library budget of 1920 was over $150,000, of which $50,000 represents
the approximate cost of books; the balance being spent for the salaries
of the large staff which is necessitated by a library of this size.
[Illustration: THE NEW LIBRARY]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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