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Lafayette celebrated the $22-million expansion and renovation of David Bishop Skillman Library April 1 with a rededication ceremony and other events.
The library reopened in the fall after undergoing a modernization that added 28,555 square feet to the existing building and transformed almost every feature of the building’s interior and exterior.
“Skillman Library is the very heart of academic life at Lafayette,” says President Arthur J. Rothkopf ’55. “It is the leading symbol on our campus of Lafayette’s commitment to academic excellence.”
Alan R. Griffith ’64, chair of the Board of Trustees, and Neil J. McElroy, director of libraries and academic information resources, welcomed those attending the rededication. Also speaking were Rothkopf; Provost June Schlueter; Elaine McCluskey Stomber ’89, chair of the Friends of Skillman Library; Olga Anna Duhl, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures and chair of the faculty Library Advisory Committee; and Nangula Shejavali ’06 of Namibia, a double major in international affairs and Africana studies.
In addition, Jay Parini ’70, Axinn Professor of English at Middlebury College, read a new poem of his, “Aristotle in the Middle Ages.”
Schlueter announced Thursday evening at a dinner of the Board of Trustees that the magnificent new reading room on the second floor of the library has been named the Rothkopf Reading Room in recognition of the many contributions of Arthur Rothkopf and Barbara S. Rothkopf during Rothkopf’s presidency. The honor was made possible through the generous support of Harold N. Kamine ’78 and Kathleen Coogan Kamine ’78.
Installed in the Rothkopf Reading Room is a spectacular stained glass window manufactured for Lafayette in 1899 by America’s foremost art-window manufacturer, Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co., New York. Stomber announced that conservation treatment of the window, which depicts the death of Sir Philip Sidney, was funded by the Friends of Skillman Library in honor of Arthur Rothkopf and June Schlueter.
The library plaza, site of Lafayette’s annual commencement exercises and other events, has been named in honor of Francis Andrew March, Schluter said. March, a member of the Lafayette faculty from 1855 to 1906, was the first person anywhere in the world to hold the title Professor of English. He pioneered the study of literary works in the English language, instituting a program in English at Lafayette decades before the subject was widely established in colleges throughout the nation. He also was Lafayette’s first librarian.
The director’s suite has been named the McElroy Director’s Suite in honor of Neil McElroy, Schlueter announced Friday evening at a dinner following the rededication.
(Several areas within the library were named in appreciation for the generosity of Lafayette alumni and friends in supporting the library’s modernization. See the list below.)
Schlueter and her husband, Paul Schlueter, are editors of a new book celebrating March’s groundbreaking work. Francis A. March: Selected Writings of the First Professor of English has been published by Lafayette for the Friends of Skillman Library. Paul Schlueter has published widely on modern literature and other subjects. June Schlueter, provost and Charles A. Dana Professor of English, is a specialist in Renaissance and modern drama. The book will be available through the Lafayette College Store, (610) 330-5513.
The rededication ceremony was preceded by three events sponsored by the Friends of Skillman Library, a poetry reading by Parini; a talk on the library’s Tiffany windows by Elizabeth DeRosa of the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum; and a presentation by the library’s lead architects, Robert Miklos and Jonathan Cutler of Ann Beha Architects, Boston.
Planning for the “new” library focused on creating spaces that increase students’ access to resources and enhance their ability to research, study, and learn. While the expansion accommodates the library collection’s future growth, a majority of the newly created spaces are devoted to new working and learning environments for students.
The Rothkopf Reading Room is a signature feature of the enhanced library. A glass façade facing the Quad offers those using the library a view of campus and gives those outside a view of the vitality inside.
Major new public spaces also include a program room for talks, readings, and film screenings. This room has been named the Gendebien Room in honor of the late Albert W. Gendebien ’34, former history professor and College archivist.
The library has two instruction rooms with computers and network connectivity, allowing librarians to fully integrate interactive exercises into their class sessions, and a digital media lab for the creation of electronic content using high-end technologies.
There are several group study rooms for student collaboration and a common room with a cafe facility.
A special collections suite provides researchers with expanded space for working with rare books and manuscripts.
The library has 25 percent more seating capacity than it did before, with access to the campus computer network at virtually every seat, and 20 years of growth space for the library’s collection. Improved staff work spaces enhance public access to reference librarians and instructional technologists.
The historic restoration of a second spectacular window manufactured for Lafayette by Tiffany (in 1898) was funded by William W. Lanigan ’52. Depicting the Emperor Charlemagne and monk Alcuin reading an astronomy book, it is installed in the Simon Room on the first floor. The Coats of Arms that formerly flanked the central panel of the Sir Philip Sidney window are on display on the ground floor. Restoration of the Coats of Arms was funded by the classes of 1954 and 2004.
The library project is the latest in a series of major construction and renovation projects made possible by the Lafayette Leadership Campaign. The campaign raised $213 million, enabling Lafayette to transform its campus by investing more than $150 million in academic, residential, and recreational facilities.
Opened in 1963 to replace Van Wickle as Lafayette’s main library, Skillman Library originally contained 450 seats (triple the number in Van Wickle) and had the capacity to house 320,000 volumes. Sections of the library were renovated in 1986-87, when the building was also enlarged through the addition of the William E. and Carol G. Simon Wing.
The library is named in honor of David Bishop Skillman ’13, a long-time member of the Board of Trustees who also served as board secretary and College counsel. In 1932, to coincide with its centennial celebration, Lafayette published his two-volume history of the College.
Brenninger Reading Area, named in recognition of the generous support of the estate of Ralph A. Brenninger ’33
Class of 2003 Study Area, named in recognition of the generous support of the Class of 2003
Heilman Room, named in recognition of the generous support of the estate of Robert B. Heilman ’27
McGrail Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Thomas F. McGrail ’55
Pfenning Room, named in recognition of the generous support of the Robert E. Pfenning ’32 family
Pugh Study Room, named in recognition of the generous support of James E. Pugh ’51
Beane Technology Studio, named in recognition of the generous support of S. Robert Beane Jr. ’58 and Silas R. Beane III ’88
Brunswick Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Edward B. Brunswick ’58
Carras Conference Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Susan Barnes Carras ’76 and George A. Carras and dedicated to John and Alice Barnes
Drinkhouse Reading Room, named in recognition of the generous support of W. Bruce Drinkhouse ’50
Lass Gallery, named in recognition of the generous support of E. Donald Lass ’60
McCluskey Reference Studio, named in recognition of the generous support of Donald McCluskey ’36
Newman Technical Services Area, named in recognition of the generous support of the estate of Mortimer G. Newman Jr. ’35 in memory of Mortimer and Margaret Theresa Newman and Doris Newman
Nordberg Common Room, named in recognition of the generous support of E. Wayne Nordberg ’60
Rossetti Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Andrew Rosetti Jr. ’34 and Nellie Mae Rossetti
Anderson Study Room, named in recognition of the generous support of John Anderson Fry ’82 and family in memory of Margaret and George Anderson
Arthur Study Area, named in recognition of the generous support of Greer M. Arthur Jr. ’56
d’Aubermont Study Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Peter C.S. d’Aubermont, M.D. ’73
Gendebien Room, named in recognition of the generous support of students and friends of the late Albert W. Gendebien ’34, history professor and College archivist, in tribute to his contributions as teacher and archivist
Green Study Room, in recognition of the generous support of Jonathan D. Green ’68
Griffith Special Collections Suite, named in recognition of the generous support of Alan R. Griffith ’64 and Elizabeth F. “Penny” Griffith
McGuire Family Study Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Hilary Spiro McGuire ’77 and James B. McGuire
Parsons Study Area, named in recognition of the generous support of the estate of Marselis C. Parsons Jr. P’66
Phi Delta Theta Seminar Room and Ante Area, named in recognition of the generous support of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and Phi Delta Theta House Association, Inc.
Reynolds Study Area, named in memory of Elmer L. Reynolds ’13 through the generous support of the estate of Jean L. Reynolds
Rothkopf Reading Room, named in recognition of the many contributions of Arthur J. Rotkopf ’55 and Barbara S. Rothkopf during Arthur Rothkopf’s term as president of Lafayette through a gift from Harold N. Kamine ’78 and Kathleen Coogan Kamine ’78
Ruthizer Study Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Jeffrey Ruthizer ’62 and Monica Ruthizer P’2000
Sachs Study Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Mrs. Max Sachs and Harold B. Sachs ’45 in memory of Max Sachs
Schlueter Rare Book Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Paul and June Schlueter
Standbridge Study Room, named in recognition of the generous support of Peter T. Standbridge ’55
Von Arx Lounge, named in recognition of the generous support of the estate of Emil Von Arx Jr. ’33
The College also gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc., and the William Penn Foundation.
Skillman Library has undergone a $22-million expansion and renovation.