William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library

The enthusiasm from the President of Ohio State University, E. Gordon Gee is palpable. Quite understandable, given the university library's amazing transformation. Gee states "'Meet me at the library' will once again resound on our campus" (2009). The renovation of the original 1912 William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library was completed after a three year construction phase. There were many problems with the old Thompson Library building. Space was an issue and the collection of books had come to clutter the library. In an attempt to address the space issue, the original grand reading room had been cut up over the years to provide more shelf space for the growing collection. Social spaces, such as the cafe, were too small to accommodate the growing number of students on campus. In addition, private study spaces were small and confining which wasn't conducive to productive studying(Biemiller, 2007). These problems, along with growing technology needs, made a renovation necessary.

The Thompson Library renovation resulted in an amazing transformation. Resources from the university’s Journalism Library, the Business Library, the Theatre Research Institute, the Hilander Research Library and the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library were all moved to the Thompson Library during the renovation. This consolidation of entities makes exhibition of the special collections and research possible in one convenient place. The decision to move everything to one place is a display of innovative library design. The consolidation creates a heightened awareness with both students and faculty of all collections at the university sparking interest and greater use of these unique resources. A common problem with many university collections is that the students are unaware of their presence. This library solved that problem by bringing them all to one library to facilitate awareness and use by also including exhibit spaces specifically for the special collections.

The new Thompson Library combines old architectural features from the original building, such as the beautiful twin atriums and restored grand reading room, with new features such as the glass-enclosed contemporary study space(See photo 4 from photo gallery).
A former mechanical attic space was transformed into a new public space for study and special events. This was a creative use of space that was no longer needed. The new design also incorporated seating space which more than doubled from its original amount. The addition of more seating, much of it modular, was not only a necessity but an awareness of future user needs. Besides more than a million library books, journals and special collections, the new library also included an exciting array of spaces designed for both individual and group study making it more user centered. These distinct spaces provide needed quiet and noisy designated areas. As education requires more group work, the group study spaces become a necessity while still respecting the need for quiet individual study. Because of the age of the building, a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system was installed, in addition to life safety. Electrical systems were completely rewired to accommodate new and future technology needs of both students and library systems. This change, as part of the renovation, is an essential one if the library is to remain viable and be able to meet technology needs of its users.

A piecemeal addition to the library that had been added over the years was torn down in the renovation and replaced with a large, glassy study area with movable furniture. A portion of the building features tiered, open levels. The skin on the stack tower has been replaced with glass, making an impressing architectural statement and allows the books on the shelves to be visible from the grand entrance( See Photo 3 from photo gallery). When referring to the exposed stacks, one of the architects stated that exposing the books would remind people of the central role books play in a library, even in a digital age. (Biemiller, 2007). I particularly like this statement of purpose in the design mission of the library. Libraries-as-place is apparent in the new library's architecture. Most literature on libraries talk about the trends indicating transitioning away from physical space needed; making the point that users access information via the internet. Ohio State University clearly did not assume that position. In fact, the new library is bigger and better than ever. Design concepts gave importance to both the library's history and its future. A respect for the original grand building and function has been combined with the library's new philosophy of embracing new technologies and new ways of communication. When looking at the renderings and floor plans (included below) one can see the amazing finished product and believe that ,in fact, a library can and must evolve to serve the needs of today's user while maintaining a respect for its past. The Thompson Library is the most grand library I've ever seen and hope to experience it in person some day. To gain a better understanding of this magnificent library, please view additional photos on the link below as well as the floor plans.

Photo Gallery of New Library- http://library.osu.edu/about/locations/thompson-library/about-thompson/thompson-library-renovation

Library Floor Plans- http://library.osu.edu/sites/renovation/plans051026.pdf

Bibliography

Biemiller, L. (2007), Library Renovation at Ohio State U. Promises More Space, but Fewer Books. Chronicle.com. http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Library-Renovation-at-Ohio/4700/

Ohio State University Renovation http://library.osu.edu/about/locations/thompson-library/about-thompson/thompson-library-renovation/