Spear Overcrowding

Azariah's Smith Root's hard work was appreciated. An article in the Oberlin Weekly News on April 11, 1889 gives us a glimpse of the affects of Root's work on students:

"Librarian Root has rearranged the books in the library - the result of a week's vacation. All the magazines are placed in alphabetical order on the north and east sides of the room, and other changes were made to save time in finding any desired book. With an hour's study at first, upon the arrangement of the material, it is possible now to find immediately the book or article desired in a twinkling of an eye. And with almost 20,000 volumes, not including the U.L.A. library, it is marvelous how little time need be wasted by the student in getting at the gist of his errand to the library."

When it was opened in 1885, it was intended that Spear Library would last fifty years.  However, dwindling space in the building is already noted in the College President's report of 1888.  The smaller images here show the overcrowded top most floor of the Spear Library.