In 1901, a new Library facility opened. This second Library
building was in use until 1921, at which time a new Library
building was constructed. The third OSU Library building opened
in 1921.
In 1940,
Edmon Low became head librarian at the then Oklahoma A&M
College, and a new era began — one in which service
was identified as a philosophical foundation for library
activities. During his long tenure, plans for a new building
were developed and carried out. In 1953, the Edmon Low Library,
with its elegant Georgian style, opened and quickly became
a focal point for campus pride.
Roscoe
Rouse, Jr. succeeded Edmon Low as university librarian upon
his retirement in 1967. Rouse brought years of experience
in library administration to OSU. He is best known for bringing
mechanization of library routines and information services
to the Library. He is also the author of A History of the
Oklahoma State University Library for the OSU Centennial
History Series.
The
Library moved into the electronic age when Edward R. Johnson
became dean of libraries in 1987. One of the first milestones
was the implementation of PETE, the Library's first online
information system. It provided information about the Library's
1.7 million volumes and became more powerful as new databases
are added. Today, the Library is conquering cyberspace by
providing Internet access to its users through it's expanded
web site and the new, web-based online catalog.
Another
major resource of the OSU Library is the more than 200 faculty,
staff and students who come to work each day to serve the
needs of the campus community. It's their dedication and
hard work that provide a strong structure upon which the
future of this institution will be built. — By Heather
Lloyd, Associate Professor Emeritus, Special Collections
and University Archives
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