King Library Celebrates 50th Anniversary

BY ALTHEA E. PERLEY
Miami University journalism student

Happy 50th birthday, King Library! The Miami University libraries today welcome all to learn about the history of King and share birthday cake from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Students, faculty and community members are invited to the library's open house, starting inside King Library's main lobby area, with tours and a banner celebrating nearly 200 years of Miami Libraries' history. There will also be a display of items students used to be able to check out, like record players and albums.

"Come for cake. We have a very outgoing dean and I'm sure we will have something delicious," said Jacky Johnson, Miami's archivist.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Miami retirees are also encouraged to record a brief King 50th anniversary reflections in King Library's new One-Button Studio. The facility allows users to create video productions quickly.

Fifty years of history

King Library was built in 1966, and named after Edgar Weld King.

King came to Miami in the fall of 1922 at the request of the university president at the time, Raymond Hughes. Over the course of his time at Miami, King built the library's book stock from less than 70,000 volumes to more than 300,000 by the time of his retirement in 1956.

Just days before King Library was set to open, the staff had the gargantuan task of transferring all its books 200 yards -- from the old library into the new. So on Nov. 19, 1966, more than 60 volunteers from the Intrafraternity Council helped to move the old library's 35,000 books into the new King Library. Because of their heroic efforts, and only a few breaks to check on the football game score, King Library was able to open just two days later, on Nov. 21, 1966.

For those who took part in the "book brigade," it was an experience they will never forget.

“Being able to go back into the closed stacks was like opening a treasure chest,” George Blakeslee, class of 1970, told Miami University Communications Department. “I was able to go into the inner sanctum to help box books and periodicals. We kept discovering things and wanting to stop and read them, and the crew captains really had to keep us focused and moving.”

In 1973 King Library added its north wing and main entrance -- just more than 175,000 square feet -- to the original structure. And then in 1997, King launched a renovation to accommodate increasingly digital research needs, officially completing it in 2007. King Cafe, with its separate entrance on the first floor, opened in 2006.

Next 50 years

Now, many patrons visit King through cyber space. This digital era doesn't mean the traffic to King Library is slowing, but the needs of those frequenting the library are.

"We are going to look at what the future in 50 years will be like, and decide how King Library can help all patrons. Those who are out in cyberspace and those who are physically in the library," Johnson said.

Photo: The sun set on King Library in April of this year. -- Photo contributed by the Miami University Digital Assets