During Booth Library’s 75th anniversary celebration and rededication event on Friday, Eastern President Jay Gatrell spoke about how the library has evolved in his eyes and about how he has contributed to it.
“The goal of these initiatives is to ensure that Booth Library is a vibrant and engaging community that evolves and changes to meet the needs of all learners,” Gatrell said. “Based [on] the increase in total visits and expanded use of resources, I am confident these investments have been well received by students and faculty.”
Senior management major Christopher Redmon, who also goes by Prodigy, said student growth at Booth has changed tremendously over time.
“Back then, it used to be 10 students involved with the Booth Library, but now we are over 90 people,” Redmon said. “The technology center has changed too. We have a lot of podcast studios, virtual reality [and] cameras that students can rent out and more.”
Eastern’s library services first came about in 1899, located in the southwest corner of the first floor of Old Main. In 1929, Librarian Mary Booth had the idea of moving the library’s location and expanding.
The Great Depression and World War II delayed funding for the project by the state legislature. After the war, in 1944, the state legislature approved Eastern’s plans for a new library, according to Head of University Archives Bradley Tolppanen.
“It was a two-year project that eventually cost $2,125,000,” said Tolppanen. “The price tag included construction costs as well as the purchase of bookstacks, furniture and other equipment.”
Designed by the Chicago architect C. Herrick Hammond and constructed by John L. Simmons Construction Company in Decatur, the 50,102 square foot three-story library was in the Modified Gothic Style with buff tapestry and Joliet Limestone trim.
The building design included a grand entrance hall, two large reading rooms, a closed stack room with a capacity of 125,000 volumes, and seating for up to 500 people.
The library was moved out of Old Main and into a temporary location on March 16, 1948.
Classes were canceled that day, so students helped the staff store books and other materials inside the location.
On Oct. 21, 1948, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Vernon L. Nickell and Director of Library Services Roscoe Schaupp assisted Booth.
Nickell and Schaupp succeeded Booth as library director, which led to Nickell announcing that the new library would be named in honor of Booth. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony held on May 27, 1950, and the library was opened to the public for the start of fall semester.
Over the years, Booth Library has changed in many ways, such as through renovations or the addition of technological services, which Library Specialist Lawrence Auchstetter has seen firsthand during his 29 years on staff.
“By that time, the internet changed everything,” Auchstetter said. “Because it was so popular, most of our articles were online, which was a big relief for me. But by 2020, the library became so unrecognizable. Everything was basically electronic, and everyone relied on it.”
Due to the rise in electronic documentation at Booth, Auchstetter said that the work has been much better.
“The books are much more secure, and research is much more aimed at the individual and much more accessible,” Auchstetter said.
Koria Downs can be reached at 581-2812 or at kdowns@eiu.edu.
