Campus Guide –
Margaret I. King Library
The Margaret I. King Library is located in the central campus between Library Drive and Patterson Drive and near the Classroom Building. It is the home of the Special Collections Library, the Map Collection, the Science Library, the King Library Press, and other library offices.
Most of the materials and services formerly housed in King moved to the W.T. Young Library in 1998.
The King Library circa 1935
The King Library was opened in 1931 to house the University's growing collection (then about 100,000 volumes) and replace the 1909 Carnegie Library. The original building was expanded in the 1960s and the King Library North building was added in 1974 (the original King Library became known as King South). The former King North is now the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center. (King North and King South were connected by a bridge until 1999 — it was removed as a part of the Little Library renovation.) King Library was named in 1948 to honor Margaret I. King, the University's first librarian.
From the Minutes of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, 25 June 1948
President Donovan made the following statement:
“As a rule, the Board of Trustees of the University of Kentucky has officially named buildings in honor of an individual only after that person has died. A few exceptions have been made to this policy. I believe that only in rare instances should an exception be made, and I desire to present such a case at this time.
Margaret King, University Librarian, has held this position since 1909. Since Miss King became librarian, she has built the library up from one that could be housed in a single room to a library that now contains more than 400,000 volumes and is fourth or fifth in size among the libraries of the South. It would be impossible to estimate the value of her contribution to the University of Kentucky. Now that she is about to turn over the administration of the library to a new director, I believe it is both fitting and proper that the Board of Trustees recognize the great service Miss King has given her Alma Mater, and name our library the Margaret King Library. I submit this recommendation to you for your consideration.”
It was recalled that Miss King had also served as Registrar of the University from 1905 to 1910, and since that date had served as Librarian for the University.
Upon motion duly made, seconded and carried, the recommendation of President Donovan was concurred in.
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