Carnegie Library to celebrate 100th birthday
By Justin Perrelli
Posted: 10/3/07, 11:40 PM EST Section: News
In 1905, industrialist Andrew Carnegie gave a $150,000 donation for the construction of a new library, which would bear his name.
Two years later, Carnegie was open for use. Exactly 100 years ago, the front page of The Daily Orange informed campus that Carnegie was open.
Carnegie became the university's main library, replacing the Van Ranke Library, which is now the Tolley Building.
Architecture professors Frederick Revels and Earl Hallenbeck constructed the building, O'Brien said.
When Carnegie first opened, it held about 71,000 volumes. "By 1972, when the move to Bird Library was made, there were well over one million volumes, and it was shockingly overpopulated with books," Stam said.
Though the main library moved out of Carnegie 35 years ago, the building is still home to the science and technology and mathematics libraries.
Stam wonders whether students will care enough to attend today's ceremony.
"Will they care? I don't know. Should they care? Yes," Stam said. "Their involvement in this institution as students is closely connected to the development of the institution as an important, intellectual endeavor. They should be a part of the celebration."
Most students were unaware of the building's centennial birthday.
"I didn't know it was 100; it looks very well kept," freshman Tracy Schilder said.
Sophomore Elizabeth Powers said that she did not know of the building's birthday but she cares "because it shows that Syracuse has a lot of tradition and appreciation of its buildings."
Stam said students often neglect the resources that Carnegie offers.
"Not just for their classes at Syracuse, in the four years they're here, but for the training it can give to them to find information sources for the rest of their lives," he said. "I believe that really strongly."
Two years later, Carnegie was open for use. Exactly 100 years ago, the front page of The Daily Orange informed campus that Carnegie was open.
Carnegie became the university's main library, replacing the Van Ranke Library, which is now the Tolley Building.
Architecture professors Frederick Revels and Earl Hallenbeck constructed the building, O'Brien said.
When Carnegie first opened, it held about 71,000 volumes. "By 1972, when the move to Bird Library was made, there were well over one million volumes, and it was shockingly overpopulated with books," Stam said.
Though the main library moved out of Carnegie 35 years ago, the building is still home to the science and technology and mathematics libraries.
Stam wonders whether students will care enough to attend today's ceremony.
"Will they care? I don't know. Should they care? Yes," Stam said. "Their involvement in this institution as students is closely connected to the development of the institution as an important, intellectual endeavor. They should be a part of the celebration."
Most students were unaware of the building's centennial birthday.
"I didn't know it was 100; it looks very well kept," freshman Tracy Schilder said.
Sophomore Elizabeth Powers said that she did not know of the building's birthday but she cares "because it shows that Syracuse has a lot of tradition and appreciation of its buildings."
Stam said students often neglect the resources that Carnegie offers.
"Not just for their classes at Syracuse, in the four years they're here, but for the training it can give to them to find information sources for the rest of their lives," he said. "I believe that really strongly."
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